Evaluation of a Social Prescribing Pilot in Shropshire – implementation and impact findings

Rupture, Repair, and Relational Presence: A Qualitative Study of Therapists' Perspectives on the Therapeutic Alliance
Fixsen, Alison, Tragantzopoulou, P. and Health-Watt, Rianne 2026. Rupture, Repair, and Relational Presence: A Qualitative Study of Therapists' Perspectives on the Therapeutic Alliance. Psychiatry International. 7 (3), p. 93. https://doi.org/10.3390/psychiatryint7030093

Shaped by the Industry: Female Fashion Models’ Perceptions of Aesthetic Labour, Body Governance and Disordered Eating
Fixsen, Alison, Nagy, Reka and Bailey, Magdalena 2026. Shaped by the Industry: Female Fashion Models’ Perceptions of Aesthetic Labour, Body Governance and Disordered Eating. Behavioral Sciences. 16 (6), p. 959. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16060959

Mental Illness, The Social Construction of
Fixsen, Alison 2025. Mental Illness, The Social Construction of. in: The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Health, Illness, Behavior, and Society John Wiley & Sons.

Julia E.H. Brown: The Clozapine Clinic: Health Agency in High-risk Conditions:
Fixsen, Alison 2025. Julia E.H. Brown: The Clozapine Clinic: Health Agency in High-risk Conditions: Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry. 49, pp. 940-944 49. https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1007/s11013-025-09915-6

“Paradoxical bio-citizenship: Examining healthy eating from lay and professional perspectives.”
Alison Fixsen, Damien Ridge, Anna Cheshire and Panagiota Tragantzopoulou 2025. “Paradoxical bio-citizenship: Examining healthy eating from lay and professional perspectives.”. Social Science & Medicine. 381 118187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118187

The Construction of Eating Disorders Psychiatry, Politics and Cultural Representations of Disordered Eating
Fixsen, Alison 2024. The Construction of Eating Disorders Psychiatry, Politics and Cultural Representations of Disordered Eating. Palgrave Macmillan.

‘You Are Not Alone, We’ve Got You’: Power Plays, Devotion, and Punishment on Healthy Eating and Pro-Eating Disorder Websites
Tragantzopoulou, P., Fixsen, Alison, Ridge, Damien T. and Cheshire, A. 2024. ‘You Are Not Alone, We’ve Got You’: Power Plays, Devotion, and Punishment on Healthy Eating and Pro-Eating Disorder Websites. Qualitative Health Research. 34 (12), pp. 1216-1230. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323241238628

Social prescribing for older adults in mainland Portugal: Perceptions and future prospects
Costa, Andreia, Henriques, Joana, Alarcão, Violeta, Madeira, Teresa, Virgolino, Ana, Henriques, Adriana, Feteira-Santos, Rodrigo, Polley, Marie, Arriaga, Miguel and Nogueira, Paulo 2024. Social prescribing for older adults in mainland Portugal: Perceptions and future prospects. Preventive Medicine Reports. 39, p. 102652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2024.102652

Battles over ‘unruly bodies’: Practitioners’ interpretations of eating disorders and the utility of psychiatric labelling
Fixsen, Alison, Ridge, Damien T., Ponsford, O., Holder, M. and Saran, G. 2023. Battles over ‘unruly bodies’: Practitioners’ interpretations of eating disorders and the utility of psychiatric labelling. Sociology of Health & Illness. 45 (3), pp. 560-579. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.13601

I’m Skinny, I’m Worth More: Fashion Models’ Experiences of Aesthetic Labor and Its Impact on Body Image and Eating Behaviors
Fixsen, Alison, Kossewska, Magdalena and Bardey, Aurore 2023. I’m Skinny, I’m Worth More: Fashion Models’ Experiences of Aesthetic Labor and Its Impact on Body Image and Eating Behaviors. Qualitative Health Research. 33 (1-2), pp. 81-91. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323221141629

Is it time to change the approach of mental health stigma campaigns? An experimental investigation of the effect of campaign wording on stigma and help-seeking intentions
Hazell, C.M., Fixsen, Alison and Berry, C. 2022. Is it time to change the approach of mental health stigma campaigns? An experimental investigation of the effect of campaign wording on stigma and help-seeking intentions. PLoS ONE. 17 (8) e0273254. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273254

Arachne, self-care and ‘power-nets’ on women’s self-development programmes
Fixsen, Alison, Ridge, Damien and Porter, Alan 2022. Arachne, self-care and ‘power-nets’ on women’s self-development programmes. Gender and Education. 34 (7), pp. 770-786. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540253.2022.2078793

Challenges and Approaches to Green Social Prescribing During and in the Aftermath of COVID-19: A Qualitative Study
Fixsen, Alison and Barrett, S. 2022. Challenges and Approaches to Green Social Prescribing During and in the Aftermath of COVID-19: A Qualitative Study. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.861107

Orthorexia Nervosa: the Medicalization of Extreme Healthy Eating Practices
Fixsen, Alison and Cheshire, Anna 2022. Orthorexia Nervosa: the Medicalization of Extreme Healthy Eating Practices. in: Harbusch, Martin (ed.) Troubled Persons Industries: The Expansion of Psychiatric Categories beyond Psychiatry, Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 147-170

Supporting Vulnerable Populations During the Pandemic: Stakeholders’ Experiences and Perceptions of Social Prescribing in Scotland During Covid-19
Fixsen, Alison, Barrett, Simon and Simonovich, Michal 2022. Supporting Vulnerable Populations During the Pandemic: Stakeholders’ Experiences and Perceptions of Social Prescribing in Scotland During Covid-19. Qualitative Health Research. 32 (4), pp. 670-682. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323211064229

Capturing the whole effect of social prescribing – meaningful outcomes and theoretical positions
Polley, M. and Fixsen, Alison 2021. Capturing the whole effect of social prescribing – meaningful outcomes and theoretical positions. European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 48 102006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2021.102006

Fragile minds, porous selves: Shining a light on autoethnography of mental illness
Fixsen, A. 2021. Fragile minds, porous selves: Shining a light on autoethnography of mental illness. Qualitative Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1177/14733250211046657

Weathering the storm: A qualitative study of social prescribing in urban and rural Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic
Fixsen, A., Barrett, S. and Shimonovich, M. 2021. Weathering the storm: A qualitative study of social prescribing in urban and rural Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic. SAGE Open Medicine . 9. https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121211029187

“Communitas in Crisis”: An Autoethnography of Psychosis Under Lockdown
Fixsen, Alison 2021. “Communitas in Crisis”: An Autoethnography of Psychosis Under Lockdown. Qualitative Health Research. 31 (12), pp. 2340-2350. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323211025247

How men step back – and recover – from suicide attempts: A relational and gendered account
Ridge, Damien T., Hannah Smith, Alison Fixsen, Broom, A. and Oliffe, J. 2020. How men step back – and recover – from suicide attempts: A relational and gendered account. Sociology of Health & Illness. 43 (1), pp. 238-252. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.13216

What are the key features of Orthorexia Nervosa and influences on its development? A qualitative investigation?
Cheshire, A., Berry, M. and Fixsen, Alison 2020. What are the key features of Orthorexia Nervosa and influences on its development? A qualitative investigation? Appetite. 155 104798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2020.104798

Applying critical systems thinking to social prescribing: a relational model of stakeholder “buy-in”
Fixsen, Alison, Seers, H. and Polley, M.J. 2020. Applying critical systems thinking to social prescribing: a relational model of stakeholder “buy-in”. BMC Health Services Research. 20 (80) 580. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05443-8

The Social Construction of a Concept- Orthorexia Nervosa: Morality Narratives and Psycho-politics
Fixsen, Alison, Cheshire, A. and Berry, M. 2020. The Social Construction of a Concept- Orthorexia Nervosa: Morality Narratives and Psycho-politics. Qualitative Health Research. 30 (7), pp. 1101-1113. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732320911364

What does successful social prescribing look like? Mapping meaningful outcomes
Polley, M.J., Whiteside, J., Elnaschie, S. and Fixsen, Alison 2020. What does successful social prescribing look like? Mapping meaningful outcomes. London University of Westminster.

‘Momma bear wants to protect’: Vicarious parenting in practitioners working with disturbed and traumatised children
Alison Fixsen, Damien Ridge and Carys Evans 2020. ‘Momma bear wants to protect’: Vicarious parenting in practitioners working with disturbed and traumatised children. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. 20 (4), pp. 680-688. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12285

Evaluation Report of the Social Prescribing Demonstrator Site in Shropshire – Final Report
Polley, M.J., Seers, H. and Fixsen, Alison 2019. Evaluation Report of the Social Prescribing Demonstrator Site in Shropshire – Final Report.

Shades of communitas: a study of soft skills programs
Fixsen, Alison and Ridge, Damien T. 2019. Shades of communitas: a study of soft skills programs. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography. 48 (4), pp. 510-537. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891241618792075

Development of Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing for informal caregivers of people with cancer – a multicentred study
Jolliffe, R., Collaco, N., Seers, H., Farrell, C., Sawkins, M.J. and Polley, M.J. 2019. Development of Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing for informal caregivers of people with cancer – a multicentred study. Supportive Care in Cancer. 27 (5), pp. 1901-1909. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4422-8

Impact of Penny Brohn UK’s Living Well course on informal caregivers of people with cancer
Jolliffe, R., Durrant, J.R., Seers, H., Churchward, S.F., Griffiths, M., Naidoo, M., Ben-Arye, E., Polley, M.J. and Zollman, C. 2018. Impact of Penny Brohn UK’s Living Well course on informal caregivers of people with cancer. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 24 (9-10), pp. 974-980. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2018.0195

HRI Malta 2017—Cutting Edge Research in Homeopathy: HRI’s Third International Research Conference in Malta
Mosley, A.J., Roberts, E.R., Partington, H., Gaertner, K., Fisher, P., Lex Rutten, A.L.B., Mathie, R.T., Cartwright, S.J., Fixsen, Alison, Kokornaczyk, M.O., Sokol, A.M. and Tournier, A.L. 2018. HRI Malta 2017—Cutting Edge Research in Homeopathy: HRI’s Third International Research Conference in Malta. Homeopathy. 107 (1), pp. 50-54 107. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0037-1609018

Social Prescribing: community-based referral in public health
Chatterjee, H., Polley, M.J. and Clayton, G. 2018. Social Prescribing: community-based referral in public health. Perspectives in Public Health. 138 (1), pp. 18-19. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913917736661

Homeopathy in the age of antimicrobial resistance: Is it a viable treatment for upper respiratory tract infections?
Fixsen, Alison 2018. Homeopathy in the age of antimicrobial resistance: Is it a viable treatment for upper respiratory tract infections? Homeopathy. 107 (2), pp. 99-114. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0037-1621745

Self-care and entrepreneurism: An ethnography of soft skills development for higher education staff
Fixsen, Alison, Cranfield, S. and Ridge, Damien T. 2018. Self-care and entrepreneurism: An ethnography of soft skills development for higher education staff. Studies in Continuing Education. 40 (2), pp. 181-197. https://doi.org/10.1080/0158037X.2017.1418308

Evaluation of the Reading Well Books on Prescription Shelf Help scheme for young people
Polley, M.J. and Kovandzic, M. 2017. Evaluation of the Reading Well Books on Prescription Shelf Help scheme for young people.

Mixing work with therapy: a work based autoethnography
Fixsen, Alison 2017. Mixing work with therapy: a work based autoethnography. Work Based Learning e-Journal International. 7 (1), pp. 40-63.

Stories of Hell and Healing: Internet Users’ Construction of Benzodiazepine Distress and Withdrawal
Fixsen, Alison and Ridge, Damien T. 2017. Stories of Hell and Healing: Internet Users’ Construction of Benzodiazepine Distress and Withdrawal. Qualitative Health Research. 27 (13), pp. 2030-2041. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732317728053

Making Sense of Social Prescribing
Polley, M.J., Fleming, J., Anfilogoff, T. and Carpenter, A. 2017. Making Sense of Social Prescribing. London University of Westminster.

Integrative Whole Person Oncology Care in the UK
Zollman, C., Walther, A., Seers, H., Jolliffe, R. and Polley, M.J. 2017. Integrative Whole Person Oncology Care in the UK. JNCI Monographs. 2017 (52), p. lgx002 lgx002. https://doi.org/10.1093/jncimonographs/lgx002

Development of a two day wellbeing course for supporters of teenagers and young adults (TYA) with cancer
Jolliffe, R., Cargill, J., Polley, M.J., French, H., Hardman, F., Seers, H. and Baker, L. 2017. Development of a two day wellbeing course for supporters of teenagers and young adults (TYA) with cancer. TYAC BRIGHTLIGHT Conference. Leeds, UK 06 - 07 Jul 2017

Feeling Our Way: An ethnographic exploration of university staff experiences of ‘soft skills’ learning and development programmes
Fixsen, Alison 2017. Feeling Our Way: An ethnographic exploration of university staff experiences of ‘soft skills’ learning and development programmes. Prof Doc Thesis University of Westminster Leadership and Professional Development

A review of the evidence assessing impact of social prescribing on healthcare demand and cost implications
Polley, M.J. and Pilkington, K. 2017. A review of the evidence assessing impact of social prescribing on healthcare demand and cost implications. University of Westminster.

Searching for real-world effectiveness versus efficacy of healthcare innovations: the case of social prescribing for diabetes
Polley, M.J., Loef, M. and Pilkington, K. 2017. Searching for real-world effectiveness versus efficacy of healthcare innovations: the case of social prescribing for diabetes. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 19 (2) e20. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.6431

Working with people affected by cancer –mixed methods exploration of practitioner perspectives in nutritional therapy
Granger, C.A., Pilkington, K., Draper, A. and Polley, M.J. 2016. Working with people affected by cancer –mixed methods exploration of practitioner perspectives in nutritional therapy. Society for Integrative Oncology 13th International Conference. Miami, Florida, USA 05 - 07 Nov 2016

Using a whole person approach to support people with cancer: a longitudinal, mixed methods service evaluation
Polley, M.J., Jolliffe, R., Boxell, E., Zollman, C., Jackson, S. and Seers, H. 2016. Using a whole person approach to support people with cancer: a longitudinal, mixed methods service evaluation. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 15 (4), pp. 435-445. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735416632060

Barriers to working with people affected by cancer: Preliminary qualitative data from a mixed methods exploration of practitioner perspectives in nutritional therapy
Granger, C.A., Pilkington, K., Draper, A. and Polley, M.J. 2015. Barriers to working with people affected by cancer: Preliminary qualitative data from a mixed methods exploration of practitioner perspectives in nutritional therapy. European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 7 (6), p. 681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2015.07.009

Interaction Rituals and Jumbled Emotions Among “Relative Strangers”: Simulated Patient Work on a Trainee Complementary Therapy Practitioner Program
Fixsen, Alison, Ridge, Damien T., Kirkpatrick, S. and Foot, D. 2015. Interaction Rituals and Jumbled Emotions Among “Relative Strangers”: Simulated Patient Work on a Trainee Complementary Therapy Practitioner Program . Sage Open. pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244015595090

“I’m Not Waving, I’m Drowning”: An Autoethnographical Exploration of Biographical Disruption and Reconstruction During Recovery From Prescribed Benzodiazepine Use
Fixsen, Alison 2015. “I’m Not Waving, I’m Drowning”: An Autoethnographical Exploration of Biographical Disruption and Reconstruction During Recovery From Prescribed Benzodiazepine Use . Qualitative Health Research. 26 (4), pp. 466-481. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732315576496

The Responsiveness, Content Validity, and Convergent Validity of the Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCaW) Patient-Reported Outcome Measure
Jolliffe, R., Seers, H., Jackson, S., Caro, E., Weeks, L. and Polley, M.J. 2015. The Responsiveness, Content Validity, and Convergent Validity of the Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCaW) Patient-Reported Outcome Measure. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 14 (1), pp. 26-34. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735414555809

Working with people affected by cancer – Phase 1 of a mixed methods exploration of practitioner perspectives in nutritional therapy
Granger, C.A., Pilkington, K., Draper, A. and Polley, M.J. 2014. Working with people affected by cancer – Phase 1 of a mixed methods exploration of practitioner perspectives in nutritional therapy. European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 6 (5), pp. 613-614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2014.07.010

Understanding the professional characteristics, needs and experience of nutritional therapy practitioners working with cancer patients
Granger, C.A., Polley, M.J., Pilkington, K. and Draper, A. 2013. Understanding the professional characteristics, needs and experience of nutritional therapy practitioners working with cancer patients. European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 5 (6), p. 579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2013.08.018

Psychometric properties of the QuickPIPER: a shortened version of the PIPER Fatigue scale
Cuesta-Vargas, A.I., Férnandez-Lao, C., Cantarero-Villanueva, I., Castro-Sánchez, A.M., Fernández-de-Las Peñas, C., Polley, M.J. and Arroyo-Morales, M. 2013. Psychometric properties of the QuickPIPER: a shortened version of the PIPER Fatigue scale. European Journal of Cancer Care. 22 (2), pp. 245-252. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.12022

Service Evaluation of 'Living Well with the Impact of Cancer' Courses
Polley, M.J., Jackson, S., Seers, H., Boxell, E. and Jolliffe, R. 2013. Service Evaluation of 'Living Well with the Impact of Cancer' Courses. Penny Brohn Cancer Care.

Should homeopathy be considered as part of a treatment strategy for otitis media with effusion in children?
Fixsen, Alison 2013. Should homeopathy be considered as part of a treatment strategy for otitis media with effusion in children? Homeopathy. 102 (2), pp. 145-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.homp.2013.01.004.004.

Patient outcomes and experiences of an acupuncture and self-care service for persistent low back pain in the NHS: a mixed methods approach
Cheshire, A., Polley, M.J., Peters, D. and Ridge, Damien T. 2013. Patient outcomes and experiences of an acupuncture and self-care service for persistent low back pain in the NHS: a mixed methods approach. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 13 (1), p. 300. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-13-300

Performance, emotion work, and transition: challenging experiences of complementary therapy student practitioners commencing clinical practice
Fixsen, Alison and Ridge, Damien T. 2012. Performance, emotion work, and transition: challenging experiences of complementary therapy student practitioners commencing clinical practice. Qualitative Health Research. 22 (9), pp. 1163-1175. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732312449213

Patient experience of acupuncture provision in a GP practice
Fixler, M., Ogden, C., Moir, F. and Polley, M.J. 2012. Patient experience of acupuncture provision in a GP practice. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 18 (3), pp. 140-144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2012.03.003

The application of Reiki in nurses diagnosed with Burnout Syndrome has beneficial effects on concentration of salivary IgA and blood pressure
Díaz-Rodríguez, L., Arroyo-Morales, M., Cantarero-Villanueva, I., Férnandez-Lao, C., Polley, M.J. and Cesar Fernández-de-las-Peñas, P. 2011. The application of Reiki in nurses diagnosed with Burnout Syndrome has beneficial effects on concentration of salivary IgA and blood pressure. Revista latino-americana de enfermagem. 19 (5), pp. 1132-1138. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692011000500010

Is it feasible and effective to provide osteopathy and acupuncture for patients with musculoskeletal problems in a GP setting? A service evaluation
Cheshire, A., Polley, M.J., Peters, D. and Ridge, Damien T. 2011. Is it feasible and effective to provide osteopathy and acupuncture for patients with musculoskeletal problems in a GP setting? A service evaluation. BMC Family Practice. 12 (49), p. 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2296-12-49

Effect of auricular acupuncture on appetite: a pilot study
Bradford, A., Tuffrey, V. and Polley, M.J. 2010. Effect of auricular acupuncture on appetite: a pilot study. Medical Acupuncture. 22 (3), pp. 181-186. https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2010.0751

Individualised and complex experiences of integrative cancer support care: combining qualitative and quantitative data
Seers, H.E., Gale, N., Paterson, C., Cooke, H.J., Tuffrey, V. and Polley, M.J. 2009. Individualised and complex experiences of integrative cancer support care: combining qualitative and quantitative data. Supportive Care in Cancer. 17 (9), pp. 1159-1167. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-008-0565-3

Mind and body management strategies for chronic pain & rheumatoid arthritis: strategies in search of wellbeing
Shariff, F., Carter, J., Dow, C., Polley, M.J., Salinas, M. and Ridge, Damien T. 2009. Mind and body management strategies for chronic pain & rheumatoid arthritis: strategies in search of wellbeing. Qualitative Health Research. 19 (8), pp. 1037-1049. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732309341189

Mind and body strategies for chronic pain and rheumatoid arthritis: strategies in search of wellbeing
Ridge, Damien T., Shariff, F., Carter, J., Dow, C., Polley, M.J. and Salinas, M. 2009. Mind and body strategies for chronic pain and rheumatoid arthritis: strategies in search of wellbeing. Medical Sociology Group 41st Annual Conference 2009. University of Manchester 03 - 05 Sep 2009 pp. 99

How to summarise and report written qualitative data from patients: a method for use in cancer support care
Polley, M.J., Seers, H.E., Cooke, H.J., Hoffman, C. and Paterson, C. 2007. How to summarise and report written qualitative data from patients: a method for use in cancer support care. Supportive Care in Cancer. 15 (8), pp. 963-971. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0283-2

The development of criteria to analyse qualitative data from Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCaW) questionnaire
Polley, M.J. and Seers, H.E. 2006. The development of criteria to analyse qualitative data from Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCaW) questionnaire. Diversity and Debate in Alternative and Complementary Medicine: an Academic and Experiential Conference for Researchers and Practitioners. Nottingham, UK 05-07 Jul 2006

The benefit of individualised programmes of complementary therapies for breast cancer patients at Breast Cancer Haven
Polley, M.J., Hoffman, C., Brydon, N., Cox, C. and Deveraux, F. 2006. The benefit of individualised programmes of complementary therapies for breast cancer patients at Breast Cancer Haven. European Journal of Cancer Supplements. 4 (2), p. 89.