Ozempic: Unexpected Benefits Against Depression

A Large-Scale Swedish Study

GLP-1-based drugs, initially designed to treat type 2 diabetes, could revolutionize the management of psychiatric disorders. A national study published in March 2026 in The Lancet Psychiatry by researchers from the Karolinska Institutet (Sweden), the University of Eastern Finland, and Griffith University (Australia) demonstrates that semaglutide—the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy—is associated with a significant reduction in depressive and anxiety symptoms.

The study followed more than 95,000 patients diagnosed with depression or an anxiety disorder, including 22,480 users of GLP-1 drugs, via Swedish national registers between 2009 and 2022. The results are striking: during periods of treatment with semaglutide, the need for psychiatric care fell by 42% compared to periods without treatment.

Figures That Raise Questions

The observed benefits affect several dimensions of mental health:

• Depression: 44% reduction in sick leave and hospitalizations
• Anxiety: 38% decrease in consultations and hospital care
• Addictions: 47% reduction in problems related to substance use

Among the other GLP-1 agonists studied, liraglutide showed a more modest reduction of 18%, while exenatide and dulaglutide did not show significant effects. Semaglutide, therefore, stands out clearly.

A Mechanism That Goes Beyond Weight Loss

The researchers emphasize that these effects are not solely explained by improved body image. GLP-1 receptors are widely distributed in the brain and modulate the release of serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate—neurotransmitters essential for mood regulation. GLP-1 agonists also have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may reduce the neuroinflammation associated with psychiatric disorders, as detailed in a review published in PMC.

A Debate Rekindled in France

In France, Ozempic is reimbursed at 30% by Social Security, but only for type 2 diabetes. Since February 2025, a strengthened prescription form has been mandatory to combat misuse for weight loss purposes. The Assurance Maladie (National Health Insurance) claims to have reduced the rate of misuse to only 0.2%.

These new psychiatric data could, however, revive the debate on the expansion of therapeutic indications. If the benefits on depression and anxiety are confirmed in randomized clinical trials, the question of reimbursement for psychiatric indications will inevitably arise.

Caution Needed

Experts call for caution. This is an observational study, which does not prove a causal link. Furthermore, reports of psychiatric side effects also exist, including cases of aggravated depression and suicidal thoughts. Clinical trials specifically targeting psychiatric populations are therefore essential before any extension of indication.

Global demand for these drugs already far exceeds Novo Nordisk's production capacity. Any new therapeutic indication would exacerbate supply tensions, posing an ethical dilemma between access to treatment and expansion of prescriptions.