GLP-1 diabetes drugs could stop anxiety and depression worsening, study finds

Drugs such as semaglutide may be useful for mental health conditions associated with diabetes, authors say Diabetes drugs could prevent anxiety and depression from worsening, according to research. Type 2 diabetes affects more than 800 million people globally and research shows that those with the condition are about twice as likely to have depression as the wider population. GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide are commonly prescribed for diabetes and obesity. While studies have found other health benefits beyond weight loss and better blood sugar levels, the medications’ effects on mental health have been unclear. International researchers examined Swedish health records of almost 95,000 people with a diagnosis of depression or anxiety who were also taking various diabetes medications between 2009 and 2022. The study compared periods when patients were taking GLP1s, or other second-line diabetes medications, with when they were not taking them. Worsening mental health was assessed through data on psychiatric hospital admissions, sick leave from work due to mental health reasons, hospitalisation owing to self-harm and death by suicide. Published in the Lancet Psychiatry, th