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Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) can result in important weight reduction and enhance blood sugar management in adults with extreme psychological sickness, in addition to having optimistic results on temper, well-being, and high quality of life in these each with and with out psychological sickness, in line with a scientific evaluation of the accessible proof being offered on the European Congress on Weight problems (ECO) in Malaga, Spain (11–14 Might).
The work can also be revealed within the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology.
“Our findings suggest that GLP-1RAs might be just as safe and effective in adults with mental illness as they are in mentally healthy individuals, significantly reducing psychotropic drug-induced weight gain and improving glucose control, while protecting cardiometabolic health,” says lead creator Dr. Sigrid Breit from the College of Bern, Switzerland.
“These results are particularly important for people with severe mental disorders who are three times more likely to be living with obesity than the general population.”
Psychological sicknesses are related to an elevated danger of weight acquire and metabolic issues like weight problems and kind 2 diabetes. Estimates recommend that round 60% of individuals with extreme psychological issues reside with chubby or weight problems.
Substantial weight acquire can also be a standard facet 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 drugs indefinitely to scale back the chance of symptom relapse.
Initially developed to deal with diabetes, GLP-1RAs like liraglutide and semaglutide mimic the motion of a hormone known as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), which stimulates insulin manufacturing and lowers blood sugar ranges. Extra just lately, they’ve emerged as efficient therapies for weight problems—slowing digestion, growing emotions of fullness, and decreasing starvation.
Nonetheless, proof for the affect of GLP-1RAs in people with weight problems and psychological sickness is restricted. There have additionally been issues that these drugs could enhance the chance of suicide and self-harm.
To search out out extra, Swiss researchers systematically reviewed the proof from scientific trials and case collection inspecting the protection and the affect of GLP-1RAs on psychotropic drug-induced metabolic issues corresponding to weight problems and kind 2 diabetes in addition to psychological sickness outcomes from January 1st, 2010 to August thirty first, 2024.
Information have been analyzed for 36 research involving a complete of 25,677 adults (aged 18 or older) from 19 nations. Eighteen research examined the impact of GLP-1RAs on weight reduction, glucose management and psychological sickness outcomes in adults with a extreme psychological dysfunction, corresponding to main depressive dysfunction, bipolar affective dysfunction, schizophrenia spectrum issues, 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.
General, 4 totally different GLP-1RAs have been investigated within the trials—liraglutide (often known as Victoza), semaglutide (Ozempic or Wegovy), exenatide (Byetta or Bydureon), and dulaglutide (Trulicity).
The evaluation discovered that remedy with GLP-1RAs led to important 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 every day). Individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective dysfunction utilizing this treatment 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) triggered 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 important distinction in suicidal habits in contrast with placebo.
Dr. Breit cautions, “Until we have better evidence, people taking GLP-1RAs should be carefully monitored, especially those with mental illness.”
Helpful affect on psychological well being
The evaluation additionally discovered that GLP-1RAs had a useful impact on psychological well being in adults with and with out psychological issues. 5 research discovered that they have been secure and improved psychological sickness final result and high quality of life in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum issues, 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 basic perceived well being in comparison with glimepiride (8 mg every day).
Dr. Breit explains, “GLP-1 RAs may have antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects, potentially due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties, which can also help reduce neuroinflammation.”
She provides, “This analysis supplies much-needed proof in assist of GLP-1RAs to assist safely handle the burden of weight problems in individuals with psychological sickness.
“However, more data from large-scale randomized trials and longer treatment and follow-up periods are needed to establish the long-term efficacy of GLP-1 RAs, as well as future studies exploring whether these medications might be useful for the direct treatment of mental health disorders.”
Extra data:
Sigrid Breit et al, The impact of GLP-1RAs on psychological well being and psychotropics-induced metabolic issues: A scientific evaluation, Psychoneuroendocrinology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107415
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European Affiliation for the Examine of Weight problems
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GLP-1 RA drugs discovered to be secure and efficient for treating weight problems in adults with psychological sickness (2025, Might 10)
retrieved 10 Might 2025
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