The short answer
In these trials, mood scores stayed broadly similar with semaglutide and placebo. That is reassuring for the participants studied, but it is not evidence that semaglutide treats depression.
What researchers looked at
Researchers revisited four STEP trials comparing weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg with placebo. Three trials contributed 3,377 participants followed for 68 weeks; another included 304 people followed for 104 weeks.
Most began with few depressive symptoms. People with recent major depression, certain severe psychiatric conditions, or a previous suicide attempt were excluded.
Questionnaire findings, not a depression-treatment trial
At the start
Most participants had few depressive symptoms
During treatment
Small average difference was not clinically meaningful
Rare events
Too uncommon to establish safety for everyone
Original visual based on the study.
| Group or measure | Result |
|---|---|
| At the start | Most participants had few depressive symptoms |
| During treatment | Small average difference was not clinically meaningful |
| Rare events | Too uncommon to establish safety for everyone |
What changed?
In the pooled 68-week analysis, the adjusted difference on a depression questionnaire was about half a point in semaglutide’s favor. The authors considered that too small to be clinically meaningful.
Reported suicidal thoughts or behavior were uncommon, without a clear difference between groups. Rare events remain difficult to assess even in trials this size.
What this means for you
These results help answer a common question about mood during weight-loss treatment. They do not predict how every individual will feel, particularly people whose mental-health history differed from the study participants.
Novo Nordisk funded the analysis.