Integrating Mental Health Support in Pharmacy Practice: Assessing the Impact of Pharmacist-Led Interventions on Anxiety and Depression Outcomes

Abstract

The increased prevalence of anxiety and depression across the world makes it imperative to ensure that there are readily available and effective treatments in this sphere. Community-based pharmacists are particularly noted for their potential for early-intervention activities in mental health. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of mental health interventions delivered by pharmacists on patient experiences and care concerning anxiety and depression in community pharmacy. A multi-site, quantitative-intervention study was carried out on twelve different pharmacies using 100 adult participants employing self-administered PHQ-9 and GAD-7 instruments. There was also a marked improvement in the depression and anxiety scores, with the two groups recording a PHQ-9 value of 13.2 compared to 8.1 and a GAD-7 value of 12.5 compared to 7.3. These results suggest that there is a benefit to providing mental health services in pharmacies, enhancing primary care where there are deficiencies, and providing easily accessible, non-hospital-based care that might be more effective for those with mental health issues.