Meta-analysis shows no statistically significant increase in depression risk with semaglutide, suggesting reassuring safety despite substantial study heterogeneity.
Key Points
To evaluate the risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation or attempts among patients receiving semaglutide for metabolic conditions.
Conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of biomedical databases, trial registries, and pharmacovigilance databases through January 2026 following PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
Included randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and pharmacovigilance disproportionality studies, assessing risk of bias via ROBINS-I and the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale.
The pooled risk ratio for depression with semaglutide was 1.25 (95% CI: 0.95–1.65; I² = 98%) compared with control groups.
Pooled risk ratios for anxiety and suicidal ideation/attempt were 1.22 (95% CI: 0.93–1.60; I² = 99%) and 1.20 (95% CI: 0.90–1.62; I² = 92%), respectively, showing no statistically significant differences versus comparators.