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Study · Observational study · 2026

10 results

Association between GLP-1 receptor agonist use and worsening mental illness in people with depression and anxiety in Sweden: a national cohort study.

Taipale H, Taylor M, Lähteenvuo M, Mittendorfer-Rutz E, Tanskanen A, Tiihonen J

The lancet. Psychiatry1 Apr 2026Cited by 3 (Europe PMC)

PMID41862258 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/s2215-0366(26)00014-3 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-41862258
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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Summary

BackgroundPeople with diabetes have an elevated risk of developing depression, anxiety, and suicide. GLP-1 receptor agonists are licensed to treat diabetes and obesity, but data on whether these medications alleviate or exacerbate anxiety, depression, and self-harm are mixed. We studied the risk of worsening mental illness in people already diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or both who were prescribed antidiabetic medications including GLP-1 receptor agonists.MethodsThe study cohort, identified from national Swedish electronic health registers, included people with a diagnosis of depression or anxiety disorder who used any antidiabetic medication between the years 2009 and 2022. GLP-1 receptor agonists, individually and as a group, were compared with non-use of GLP-1 receptor agonists and directly with other second-line antidiabetic medications. A within-individual design was used for all comparisons to reduce confounding, comparing periods of use versus periods of non-use of a medication in the same individual. The primary outcome was worsening of mental illness, defined as a composite of psychiatric hospitalisation; sick leave from work for more than 14 days for psychiatric reasons; hospitalisation due to self-harm; or death by suicide. Secondary outcomes were worsening of depression or anxiety, analysed separately, worsening of substance use disorder, and self-harm. Within-individual stratified Cox models with adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% CIs were used. A person with related lived experience was involved in the design and write-up of this study.FindingsThe cohort included 95 490 people (56 976 [59·7%] female and 38 514 [40·3%] male) with a mean age of 50·6 years (SD 12·3). Ethnicity data were not available. GLP-1 receptor agonists were used by 22 480 individuals during the follow-up period. Compared with non-use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, semaglutide (aHR 0·58 [95% CI 0·51-0·65]) and liraglutide (0·82 [0·76-0·89]) were associated with lower risk of worsening mental illness, whereas exenatide (1·01 [0·69-1·46]) and dulaglutide (1·01 [0·85-1·20]) were not. Semaglutide was associated with a decreased risk of worsening depression (0·56 [0·44-0·71]), of worsening anxiety (0·62 [0·52-0·73]), and of worsening substance use disorder (0·53 [0·35-0·80]). Liraglutide was associated only with lower risk of worsening depression (0·74 [0·64-0·87]). GLP-1 receptor agonists as a group were associated with a reduced risk of self-harm (0·56 [0·34-0·92]).InterpretationFor anxiety and depression that co-occur with diabetes and obesity, semaglutide and, to a lesser extent, liraglutide might be useful dually effective therapeutic options. Randomised controlled trials evaluating these findings are warranted.FundingSigrid Jusélius Foundation, Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, and Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study10

7 results from studies that gave the peptide. 7 results from people.

  1. 01HumanObservational studyEfficacy outcome

    In people with depression or anxiety, semaglutide use was linked to lower risk of worsening mental illness than non-use.

    In plain wordsIn people with depression or anxiety, semaglutide use was linked to less worsening mental illness than non-use.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseWorsening mental illness
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Non-use of GLP-1 receptor agonists
    Analysis
    Primary
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Adjusted hazard ratio
    0.58
    semaglutide versus non-use

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Compared with non-use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, semaglutide (aHR 0·58 [95% CI 0·51-0·65]) and liraglutide (0·82 [0·76-0·89]) were associated with lower risk of worsening mental illness, whereas exenatide (1·01 [0·69-1·46]) and dulaglutide (1·01 [0·85-1·20]) were not.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The study cohort, identified from national Swedish electronic health registers, included people with a diagnosis of depression or anxiety disorder who used any antidiabetic medication between the years 2009 and 2022.
    Summary · context
    A within-individual design was used for all comparisons to reduce confounding, comparing periods of use versus periods of non-use of a medication in the same individual.
  2. 02HumanObservational studyEfficacy outcome

    In people with depression or anxiety, liraglutide use was linked to lower risk of worsening mental illness than non-use.

    In plain wordsIn people with depression or anxiety, liraglutide use was linked to less worsening mental illness than non-use.

    Peptide
    Liraglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseWorsening mental illness
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Non-use of GLP-1 receptor agonists
    Analysis
    Primary
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Adjusted hazard ratio
    0.82
    liraglutide versus non-use

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Compared with non-use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, semaglutide (aHR 0·58 [95% CI 0·51-0·65]) and liraglutide (0·82 [0·76-0·89]) were associated with lower risk of worsening mental illness, whereas exenatide (1·01 [0·69-1·46]) and dulaglutide (1·01 [0·85-1·20]) were not.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The study cohort, identified from national Swedish electronic health registers, included people with a diagnosis of depression or anxiety disorder who used any antidiabetic medication between the years 2009 and 2022.
    Summary · context
    A within-individual design was used for all comparisons to reduce confounding, comparing periods of use versus periods of non-use of a medication in the same individual.
  3. 03HumanObservational studyEfficacy outcome

    In people with depression or anxiety, dulaglutide use was not linked to lower risk of worsening mental illness than non-use.

    In plain wordsIn people with depression or anxiety, dulaglutide use was not linked to less worsening mental illness than non-use.

    Peptide
    Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
    Outcome
    No significant changeWorsening mental illness
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Non-use of GLP-1 receptor agonists
    Analysis
    Primary
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Adjusted hazard ratio
    1.01
    dulaglutide versus non-use

    Source sentences

    Summary
    whereas exenatide (1·01 [0·69-1·46]) and dulaglutide (1·01 [0·85-1·20]) were not.
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Compared with non-use of GLP-1 receptor agonists,
    Summary · context
    The study cohort, identified from national Swedish electronic health registers, included people with a diagnosis of depression or anxiety disorder who used any antidiabetic medication between the years 2009 and 2022.
    Summary · context
    A within-individual design was used for all comparisons to reduce confounding, comparing periods of use versus periods of non-use of a medication in the same individual.
  4. 04HumanObservational studyEfficacy outcome

    In people with depression or anxiety, semaglutide use was linked to lower risk of worsening depression than non-use.

    In plain wordsIn people with depression or anxiety, semaglutide was linked to less worsening depression than non-use.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseWorsening depression
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Non-use of GLP-1 receptor agonists
    Analysis
    Secondary
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Adjusted hazard ratio
    0.56
    worsening depression

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Semaglutide was associated with a decreased risk of worsening depression (0·56 [0·44-0·71]), of worsening anxiety (0·62 [0·52-0·73]), and of worsening substance use disorder (0·53 [0·35-0·80]).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The study cohort, identified from national Swedish electronic health registers, included people with a diagnosis of depression or anxiety disorder who used any antidiabetic medication between the years 2009 and 2022.
    Summary · context
    A within-individual design was used for all comparisons to reduce confounding, comparing periods of use versus periods of non-use of a medication in the same individual.
  5. 05HumanObservational studyEfficacy outcome

    In people with depression or anxiety, semaglutide use was linked to lower risk of worsening anxiety than non-use.

    In plain wordsIn people with depression or anxiety, semaglutide was linked to less worsening anxiety than non-use.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseWorsening anxiety
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Non-use of GLP-1 receptor agonists
    Analysis
    Secondary
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Adjusted hazard ratio
    0.62
    worsening anxiety

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Semaglutide was associated with a decreased risk of worsening depression (0·56 [0·44-0·71]), of worsening anxiety (0·62 [0·52-0·73]), and of worsening substance use disorder (0·53 [0·35-0·80]).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The study cohort, identified from national Swedish electronic health registers, included people with a diagnosis of depression or anxiety disorder who used any antidiabetic medication between the years 2009 and 2022.
    Summary · context
    A within-individual design was used for all comparisons to reduce confounding, comparing periods of use versus periods of non-use of a medication in the same individual.
  6. 06HumanObservational studyEfficacy outcome

    In people with depression or anxiety, semaglutide use was linked to lower risk of worsening substance use disorder than non-use.

    In plain wordsIn people with depression or anxiety, semaglutide was linked to less worsening substance use disorder than non-use.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseWorsening substance use disorder
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Non-use of GLP-1 receptor agonists
    Analysis
    Secondary
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Adjusted hazard ratio
    0.53
    worsening substance use disorder

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Semaglutide was associated with a decreased risk of worsening depression (0·56 [0·44-0·71]), of worsening anxiety (0·62 [0·52-0·73]), and of worsening substance use disorder (0·53 [0·35-0·80]).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The study cohort, identified from national Swedish electronic health registers, included people with a diagnosis of depression or anxiety disorder who used any antidiabetic medication between the years 2009 and 2022.
    Summary · context
    A within-individual design was used for all comparisons to reduce confounding, comparing periods of use versus periods of non-use of a medication in the same individual.
  7. 07HumanObservational studyEfficacy outcome

    In people with depression or anxiety, liraglutide use was linked to lower risk of worsening depression than non-use.

    In plain wordsIn people with depression or anxiety, liraglutide was linked to less worsening depression than non-use.

    Peptide
    Liraglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseWorsening depression
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Non-use of GLP-1 receptor agonists
    Analysis
    Secondary
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Adjusted hazard ratio
    0.74
    worsening depression

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Liraglutide was associated only with lower risk of worsening depression (0·74 [0·64-0·87]).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The study cohort, identified from national Swedish electronic health registers, included people with a diagnosis of depression or anxiety disorder who used any antidiabetic medication between the years 2009 and 2022.
    Summary · context
    A within-individual design was used for all comparisons to reduce confounding, comparing periods of use versus periods of non-use of a medication in the same individual.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone3

In this study, the peptide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking the peptide.

  1. 08HumanNot a test of Dulaglutide (Trulicity) aloneObservational studySafety outcome

    In people with depression or anxiety, pooled GLP-1 receptor agonist use, including dulaglutide, was linked to less self-harm than non-use.

    In plain wordsIn people with depression or anxiety, pooled GLP-1 medicines, including dulaglutide, were linked to less self-harm than non-use.

    Peptide
    Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
    Outcome
    DecreaseSelf-harm with pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Non-use of GLP-1 receptor agonists
    Analysis
    Secondary
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood

    Measurements

    Adjusted hazard ratio
    0.56
    pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists

    Source sentences

    Summary
    GLP-1 receptor agonists as a group were associated with a reduced risk of self-harm (0·56 [0·34-0·92]).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The study cohort, identified from national Swedish electronic health registers, included people with a diagnosis of depression or anxiety disorder who used any antidiabetic medication between the years 2009 and 2022.
    Summary · context
    A within-individual design was used for all comparisons to reduce confounding, comparing periods of use versus periods of non-use of a medication in the same individual.

    In this study, Dulaglutide (Trulicity) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Dulaglutide (Trulicity).

  2. 09HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneObservational studySafety outcome

    In people with depression or anxiety, pooled GLP-1 receptor agonist use, including liraglutide, was linked to less self-harm than non-use.

    In plain wordsIn people with depression or anxiety, pooled GLP-1 medicines, including liraglutide, were linked to less self-harm than non-use.

    Peptide
    Liraglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseSelf-harm with pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Non-use of GLP-1 receptor agonists
    Analysis
    Secondary
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood

    Measurements

    Adjusted hazard ratio
    0.56
    pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists

    Source sentences

    Summary
    GLP-1 receptor agonists as a group were associated with a reduced risk of self-harm (0·56 [0·34-0·92]).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The study cohort, identified from national Swedish electronic health registers, included people with a diagnosis of depression or anxiety disorder who used any antidiabetic medication between the years 2009 and 2022.
    Summary · context
    A within-individual design was used for all comparisons to reduce confounding, comparing periods of use versus periods of non-use of a medication in the same individual.

    In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.

  3. 10HumanNot a test of Semaglutide aloneObservational studySafety outcome

    In people with depression or anxiety, pooled GLP-1 receptor agonist use, including semaglutide, was linked to less self-harm than non-use.

    In plain wordsIn people with depression or anxiety, pooled GLP-1 medicines, including semaglutide, were linked to less self-harm than non-use.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseSelf-harm with pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Non-use of GLP-1 receptor agonists
    Analysis
    Secondary
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood

    Measurements

    Adjusted hazard ratio
    0.56
    pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists

    Source sentences

    Summary
    GLP-1 receptor agonists as a group were associated with a reduced risk of self-harm (0·56 [0·34-0·92]).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The study cohort, identified from national Swedish electronic health registers, included people with a diagnosis of depression or anxiety disorder who used any antidiabetic medication between the years 2009 and 2022.
    Summary · context
    A within-individual design was used for all comparisons to reduce confounding, comparing periods of use versus periods of non-use of a medication in the same individual.

    In this study, Semaglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Semaglutide.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 4Current

    22 Oct 2026, 02:25 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Versions 2 to 3

    21 Oct 2026, 18:59 UTC

    The same notice was added 2 times, first on 9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC. The status did not change between them.

    Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC

  3. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 03:05 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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