Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) can result in vital weight reduction and enhance blood sugar management in adults with extreme psychological sickness, in addition to having constructive results on temper, well-being, and high quality of life in these each with and with out psychological sickness, in accordance with a scientific evaluation of the out there proof being introduced on the European Congress on Weight problems (ECO) in Malaga, Spain (11–14 Could).
The work can be revealed within the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology.
“Our findings recommend that GLP-1RAs could be simply as protected and efficient in adults with psychological sickness as they’re in mentally wholesome people, considerably decreasing psychotropic drug-induced weight acquire and enhancing glucose management, whereas defending cardiometabolic well being,” says lead writer Dr. Sigrid Breit from the College of Bern, Switzerland.
“These outcomes are notably vital for individuals with extreme psychological problems who’re 3 times extra prone to be dwelling with weight problems than the overall inhabitants.”
Psychological sicknesses are related to an elevated danger of weight acquire and metabolic problems like weight problems and sort 2 diabetes. Estimates recommend that round 60% of individuals with extreme psychological problems live with chubby or weight problems.
Substantial weight acquire can be a typical aspect impact of many mood-altering medication (psychotropics), which embody antidepressants and antipsychotics, particularly for people with extreme psychological sicknesses like schizophrenia and main depressive dysfunction who should take their medicines indefinitely to cut back the danger of symptom relapse.
Initially developed to deal with diabetes, GLP-1RAs like liraglutide and semaglutide mimic the motion of a hormone referred to as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), which stimulates insulin manufacturing and lowers blood sugar ranges. Extra lately, they’ve emerged as efficient remedies for weight problems—slowing digestion, rising emotions of fullness, and decreasing starvation.
Nonetheless, proof for the impression of GLP-1RAs in people with weight problems and psychological sickness is restricted. There have additionally been considerations that these medicines could improve the danger of suicide and self-harm.
To seek out out extra, Swiss researchers systematically reviewed the proof from scientific trials and case collection analyzing the protection and the impression of GLP-1RAs on psychotropic drug-induced metabolic problems reminiscent of weight problems and sort 2 diabetes in addition to psychological sickness outcomes from January 1st, 2010 to August thirty first, 2024.
Knowledge have been analyzed for 36 research involving a complete of 25,677 adults (aged 18 or older) from 19 international locations. Eighteen research examined the impact of GLP-1RAs on weight reduction, glucose management and psychological sickness outcomes in adults with a extreme psychological dysfunction, reminiscent of main depressive dysfunction, bipolar affective dysfunction, schizophrenia spectrum problems, and alcohol use dysfunction.
The opposite 18 research examined emotional well-being and high quality of life in adults with chubby or weight problems however with no historical past of extreme psychological sickness following GLP-1RAs remedy.
Total, 4 completely different GLP-1RAs have been investigated within the trials—liraglutide (also referred to as Victoza), semaglutide (Ozempic or Wegovy), exenatide (Byetta or Bydureon), and dulaglutide (Trulicity).
The evaluation discovered that remedy with GLP-1RAs led to vital weight reduction and improved glycemic management in adults with psychological sickness taking psychotropics.
The best weight reduction was reported in a randomized trial of liraglutide (as much as 3 mg day by day). Members with schizophrenia or schizoaffective dysfunction utilizing this medicine misplaced as much as 5.3kg extra of their beginning weight and lowered their glucose ranges (HbA1c) by 3.6 mmol/mol extra after six months in contrast with individuals taking placebo. Semaglutide (2.4 mg as soon as weekly) brought on weight lack of as much as 15.7% after 68 weeks in sufferers taking antidepressants in contrast with placebo.
No hyperlink with suicidal ideas or habits
Importantly, the outcomes confirmed that GLP-1RAs weren’t related to a worsening psychological state, suicidal habits, new psychological sickness diagnoses, or elevated psychiatric admissions.
For instance, evaluation of 4 research on suicidality in adults with bipolar dysfunction, main or bipolar depressive dysfunction or no psychological sickness discovered that liraglutide was not linked to considerably elevated charges of suicidal ideation (having ideas of suicide). Two additional research of exenatide in sufferers with alcohol use dysfunction and liraglutide in bipolar dysfunction discovered no vital distinction in suicidal habits in contrast with placebo.
Dr. Breit cautions, “Till we’ve higher proof, individuals taking GLP-1RAs must be fastidiously monitored, particularly these with psychological sickness.”
Useful impression on psychological well being
The evaluation additionally discovered that GLP-1RAs had a helpful impact on psychological well being in adults with and with out psychological problems. 5 research discovered that they have been protected and improved psychological sickness final result and high quality of life in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum problems, main depressive dysfunction, and bipolar affective dysfunction.
In adults with out psychological sickness, GLP-1RAs demonstrated a superior impact on temper, emotional well-being, and high quality of life in contrast with insulin and different antidiabetic medication. For instance, a randomized trial in sufferers with sort 2 diabetes discovered that liraglutide (1.2 or 1.8 mg) considerably improved emotional well-being and normal perceived well being in comparison with glimepiride (8 mg day by day).
Dr. Breit explains, “GLP-1 RAs could have antidepressant and anti-anxiety results, doubtlessly as a result of their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties, which might additionally assist cut back neuroinflammation.”
She provides, “This analysis gives much-needed proof in assist of GLP-1RAs to assist safely deal with the burden of weight problems in individuals with psychological sickness.
“Nonetheless, extra information from large-scale randomized trials and longer remedy and follow-up durations are wanted to ascertain the long-term efficacy of GLP-1 RAs, in addition to future research exploring whether or not these medicines could be helpful for the direct remedy of psychological well being problems.”
Extra data:
Sigrid Breit et al, The impact of GLP-1RAs on psychological well being and psychotropics-induced metabolic problems: A scientific evaluation, Psychoneuroendocrinology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107415
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European Affiliation for the Research of Weight problems
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GLP-1 RA medicines discovered to be protected and efficient for treating weight problems in adults with psychological sickness (2025, Could 10)
retrieved 11 Could 2025
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