- A 13-year Swedish study involving nearly 100,000 participants found that the GLP-1 medication semaglutide is associated with a substantial decrease in hospitalisations and sick leave for individuals diagnosed with depression or anxiety.
- Published in The Lancet Psychiatry, the research revealed a 42 percent lower risk of mental health hospitalisation during periods of semaglutide use compared to non-use.
- Users also experienced a 44 percent reduced risk of worsening depression, a 38 percent drop in worsening anxiety disorders, and a 47 percent decrease in substance use disorder-related issues.
- The study noted that GLP-1 medications as a group were linked to a reduced risk of self-harm, countering earlier concerns regarding potential suicidal ideation.
- Researchers cautioned that this was an observational study, not proving direct causation, and highlighted known physical risks of these medications, including gastrointestinal issues and pancreatitis.
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