Providing mindfulness meditation for patients with depression and anxiety in a community pharmacy: A pilot study

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of mindfulness meditation offered in a community pharmacy on patients with current anxiety or a history of anxiety, depression, or both.

Setting: Community pharmacy clinical space located in a grocery store.

Practice description: An 8-week, once-per-week mindfulness meditation program for patients with anxiety or depression.

Practice innovation: A pharmacist provided mindfulness meditation within the clinical space in a community pharmacy.

Evaluation: PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were used to assess prestudy and poststudy depression and anxiety severity, respectively. Items pertaining to participant demographics and experience in the program were also included.

Results: Twelve participants completed the study requirements. Three-quarters of participants experienced a reduction in the severity of their depression or anxiety, and no participant experienced an increase in the severity of his or her condition.

Conclusion: Findings from this study indicated that a mindfulness meditation program delivered in a community pharmacy and provided by a pharmacist for patients with depression or anxiety, or both, can result in a reduction in severity of their conditions for participants.