Depressed mood and suicidal thoughts reporting with GLP-1 receptor agonists in type 2 diabetes: A WHO VigiBase study.
J Affect Disord · 2026
Last updated 2026-05-28A study of over 1.1 million reports found that GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide, liraglutide, and tirzepatide were linked to higher reporting of depressed mood and suicidal thoughts compared to other diabetes medications. The risk was strongest in the first few months of use, and patients already taking antidepressants were more likely to report these symptoms. No increase was seen for suicide attempts or deaths.
AI summary of the abstract below.
| Journal | J Affect Disord, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Citations | 0 |
| Molecules | — |
| Conditions studied | Type 2 Diabetes, Depression |
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Evidence regarding depression and suicidality with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) remains inconsistent, particularly in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and underlying affective vulnerability.
METHODS: We conducted a disproportionality analysis of the WHO VigiBase (2010-2024), including T2DM patients. Reports of depressed mood and suicidal thoughts associated with GLP-1RAs were compared with other glucose-lowering medications. Analyses incorporated age, sex, time-to-onset, dose, comorbid depression, and concomitant antidepressant use. Adjusted reporting odds ratios (RORs) and a Weibull time-to-event model were applied. Causality was explored using Bradford Hill criteria.
RESULTS: A total of 1,183,817 adverse events related to GLP-1RA were identified. Depressed mood and suicidality signals were observed with semaglutide, liraglutide, and tirzepatide (adjusted ROR: 2.13, 1.52, 1.07) and (adjusted ROR: 6.76, 2.43, 3.39), respectively. No signal was identified for suicide attempts or completed suicide. Absolute reporting frequencies were low. Concomitant antidepressant use was 2.3-5 times more frequent, and comorbid depression 25%-120% higher, compared with other glucose-lowering medications. Median time-to-onset was 96 days. Survival analysis demonstrated an early increase in reporting followed by stabilization over time. Adjustment for antidepressant use modestly attenuated associations.
CONCLUSION: GLP-1RAs were associated with increased reporting of depressed mood and suicidal thoughts, particularly in patients receiving concomitant antidepressants. These findings support a patient-centered model in which underlying affective vulnerability or reporting factors drive reported mood symptoms rather than a uniform drug-specific effect. GLP-1RAs remain clinically valuable, but psychiatric monitoring during early treatment in vulnerable patients is warranted.
Verbatim abstract via PubMed 42002107 ↗