A cohort study by Israeli scientists found that adolescents treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists had a 33 percent lower risk of suicidal ideation or attempts compared to a control group. The study was retrospectively conducted using data from the American healthcare system, and the results were published in JAMA Pediatrics.
Over 150 million children worldwide suffer from obesity. While lifestyle modification remains the cornerstone of obesity treatment, it generally has little impact on severe obesity in adolescents. However, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists are recognized as an effective intervention for combating childhood obesity.
However, little is known about the impact of these medications, which include liraglutide and semaglutide, on neuropsychiatric outcomes. Previous studies conducted in adults have yielded conflicting results. For example, some studies have shown an increased risk of suicide with these medications, while others have refuted these findings. This issue is of particular relevance because suicide is considered the second leading cause of death among young people, and 18 percent of high school students experience suicidal ideation. Obesity in children is associated with an increased risk of both depression and suicidal tendencies.
Therefore, a team of scientists led by Liya Kerem from Hadassah Medical Center conducted a comparative analysis of suicidal tendencies in obese adolescents who were taking GLP-1 agonists or making lifestyle and dietary changes. The study cohort included 54,164 patients: 4,052 in the GLP-1 agonist group and 50,112 in the control group.
Over 12 months of follow-up, patients in the treatment group had a 33 percent lower risk of suicidal ideation or attempts compared to the control group (1.4 percent vs. 2.3 percent, p = 0.02). However, gastrointestinal symptoms were more common in the treatment group. Additional analysis confirmed that the reduced risk of suicidal ideation was directly related to the initiation of GLP-1 agonists, as follow-up for a year before treatment revealed no difference between the groups.
In future studies, the scientists intend to explore other effects of GLP-1 agonists on the neuropsychiatric health of obese adolescents. They are also interested in the nature of the discovered connection: whether GLP-1 agonists directly influence neurophysiological processes in the brain, or whether the effect is mediated by weight loss and improved self-esteem in patients.
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