Olanzapine is a 2nd generation or atypical antipsychotic medicine belongs to thienobenzodiazepine group that blocks the serontonin (5-Hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) 5-HT2A and the Dopamine (D2) receptors in particular, and also blocks Muscarinic (M1), Histamine (H1), 5-HT2C, 5-HT3 to 5-HT6, adrenergic (αl), and D4 receptors. The olanzapine has greater affinity for blocking 5-HT2A receptors in comparison with D2 receptors in comparison to other antipsychotics except Clozapine and Quetiapine. Olanzapine is most commonly prescribed for treatment of overall positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, for acute, management of mania, and as Olanzapine- fluoxetine combination in bipolar depression. It is shown to possess antidepressant activity without destabilizing the mood. It is usually well tolerated But most common side effects of the drug is sedation. The patient stated that he was suffering from sleep problem and was facing problem in procuring Benzodiazepines. On suggestion of his friend, he started taking Olanzapine as sleeping pill. Soon he discovered that it would make him feel cloudiness of mind “get stoned”, to which he liked most. It was a prime motivation for abusing olanzapine.
Introduction
Research into pathway to care (PC) in mental health in India has focussed on severe mental illness in mental hospitals.
Aim
To assess PC in a cohort of health care seeking subjects from a predominantly rural background approaching weekly community mental health satellite clinics in three towns in North India.
Materials and methods
104 consecutive patients over a period of 6 months were included in the study. PC was assessed using a validated instrument.
Results
A majority of the participants were diagnosed with common mental disorders (CMD). The mean duration of symptoms was 22.97 months and the mean number of treatment contacts was 1.11. Primary care physicians were the most common initial point of contact rather than native/religious healers.
Conclusion
In a CMD predominant treatment seeking population in a rural community where affordable mental health care and primary health care is available, there is high acceptability and utilization of such services.
Clinical significance
Community psychiatry services should ideally be situated alongside primary health care services
How to cite this article
Singh SM, Kumar E, Saroj R, Satapathy A, Nanjayya SB, Sharma A. Pathways to Care in Patients approaching Community Mental Health Satellite Clinics in North India. J Postgrad Med Edu Res 2018;52(1):12-15.
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