Researchers at Griffith University in Australia have examined data from nearly 15,000 Swedish individuals diagnosed with both bipolar disorder and diabetes. The findings, published in the journal Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, analyze data collected between 2009 and 2024.
Out of the study participants, 5,200 were taking a GLP-1 agonist. The results indicated that those taking semaglutide (marketed as Ozempic or Wegovy) experienced 21% fewer psychiatric hospitalizations compared to those not taking the drug. Furthermore, semaglutide was associated with a 17% reduction in the risk of relapse for bipolar disorder.
Conversely, no similar benefits were observed in individuals taking other GLP-1 agonists, such as liraglutide and dulaglutide. The researchers caution that this is an observational study, meaning a direct cause-and-effect relationship cannot be definitively concluded, and that results may vary outside the Swedish healthcare system.
Nevertheless, this research opens a new avenue for further investigation into the impact of semaglutide on mental health.
