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Researchers from Griffith University's School of Medicine and Dentistry, led by Professor Mark Taylor, examined nationwide Swedish health records covering roughly 15,000 people with bipolar disorder who had been prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonist medications over a 15-year span (2009–2024).
The standout result: periods when patients were taking semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — were associated with a 21% lower risk of psychiatric hospitalization compared with periods when they weren't on the drug.
Bipolar disorder affects an estimated 1 in 200 people globally, or around 37 million people, according to World Health Organization figures. It frequently co-occurs with diabetes and obesity, conditions that may share overlapping biological pathways with mood disorders.
GLP-1 drugs are already well established for treating diabetes and supporting weight loss, but their impact on psychiatric conditions has been far less understood — until now.
Notably, the benefit didn't extend across the whole GLP-1 drug class. Two other medications in the same category, liraglutide and dulaglutide, showed no similar reduction in hospitalization risk, suggesting semaglutide's effect may be distinct rather than a general class effect.
Researchers believe semaglutide may influence brain-related biological processes — including inflammation and cellular stress — that are implicated in bipolar disorder, potentially contributing to greater mood stability and lower relapse risk.
Professor Taylor said the findings, while promising, point to the need for a randomized controlled trial to establish firmer evidence on whether semaglutide can directly improve psychiatric outcomes for people with bipolar disorder.
The study, "Use of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists and the Associated Risk of Hospitalisation in Bipolar Disorder, From a Nationwide Cohort, 2009–2024," was published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.
This article summarizes findings reported by Griffith University via ScienceDaily. It is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice — anyone considering changes to bipolar disorder treatment should consult a qualified healthcare provider.
