Arts on prescription: observed changes in anxiety, depression, and well-being across referral cycles

Objectives: Arts on prescription (AoP) interventions are part of mainstream social prescribing provision in primary health care. Whilst the body of evidence for AoP interventions has been developing, this has primarily focused on well-being. Study design: The present work is an observational longitudinal study on a community-based AoP social prescribing intervention in the South West UK. Method: The present study assessed changes in anxiety, depression, and well-being in a cohort of patients participating in up to two eight-week cycles of AoP. The sample consisted of 245 individuals referred into the programme from 2017 to 2019, with a sub-sample of participants (N = 110) with identifiable multimorbidity. Outcomes were measured pre- and post-intervention at both initial and rereferral. Results: Anxiety, depression, and well-being were all significantly improved after initial referral, rereferral, and overall from initial to post re-referral for this intervention in the whole sample and multimorbid sub-sample. Multivariate analyses revealed that no participant variables appeared to account for the variance in outcome change scores. Conclusion: The research provides further support for AoP interventions, finding associations with reduced anxiety and depression and increased well-being. Additionally, these outcomes are evidenced in those with multimorbidity, as well as across initial- and re-referral cycles. (C) 2020 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This observational longitudinal study in the UK found significant improvements in anxiety, depression, and well-being for participants in a community-based AoP social prescribing intervention, especially for those with identifiable multimorbidity. The research provides further support for AoP interventions, showing associations with reduced anxiety and depression, and increased well-being. These positive outcomes were evidenced across initial and re-referral cycles, indicating the effectiveness of the program.