Lancet Psychiatry

GLP‑1 therapy may protect mental health in diabetes with depression or anxiety

March 20, 2026

A Swedish national cohort study of 95,490 adults with pre‑existing depression or anxiety found no signal of psychiatric worsening with GLP‑1 receptor agonists (RAs)—and notable protective associations for semaglutide and liraglutide. Among 22,480 GLP‑1 users, semaglutide was associated with substantially lower risk of worsening mental illness (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.58), including reduced risks of worsening depression (aHR, 0.56), anxiety (aHR, 0.62), and substance use disorder (aHR, 0.53). Liraglutide showed a modest reduction in worsening depression (aHR, 0.82), while exenatide and dulaglutide were neutral (both aHR, 1.01). Across the class, GLP‑1 RAs were associated with reduced self‑harm risk (aHR, 0.56).

Clinical takeaway: For patients with diabetes and concomitant mood or anxiety disorders, semaglutide—and to a lesser extent liraglutide—may offer dual metabolic and mental health benefits, though more research is needed.

Source:

Taipale H, et al. (2026, April). Lancet Psychiatry. Association between GLP-1 receptor agonist use and worsening mental illness in people with depression and anxiety in Sweden: a national cohort study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(26)00014-3/fulltext