Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills
Published on: April 23, 2014
Community pharmacy services to optimise the use of medications for mental illness: a systematic review
Simon Bell1, Andrew J McLachlan, Parisa Aslani
1Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia. simon@pharm.usyd.edu.au
Abstract:
The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the impact of pharmacist delivered community-based services to optimise the use of medications for mental illness. Twenty-two controlled (randomised and non-randomised) studies of pharmacists' interventions in community and residential aged care settings identified in international scientific literature were included for review. Papers were assessed for study design, service recipient, country of origin, intervention type, number of participating pharmacists, methodological quality and outcome measurement. Three studies showed that pharmacists' medication counselling and treatment monitoring can improve adherence to antidepressant medications among those commencing treatment when calculated using an intention-to-treat analysis. Four trials demonstrated that pharmacist conducted medication reviews may reduce the number of potentially inappropriate medications prescribed to those at high risk of medication misadventure. The results of this review provide some evidence that pharmacists can contribute to optimising the use of medications for mental illness in the community setting. However, more well designed studies are needed to assess the impact of pharmacists as members of community mental health teams and as providers of comprehensive medicines information to people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Related Concept Videos
Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Drug Therapy
Antianxiety Medications
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview