A Perspective on the Primary Care of Patients With Behavior, Mood, and Thought Disturbances: Clinical Applications of Olanzapine

Abstract

Primary care practitioners are in an ideal position to initiate treatment for patients with behavior, mood, and thought disturbances. It is believed that early identification and treatment of these symptomatic features of primary or secondary central nervous system disorders may significantly reduce morbidity and benefit the patient, his/her family, and involved caregivers, including the primary care physician. A broad list of central nervous system-active medications are utilized by family physicians to treat patients who exhibit symptoms of agitation, altered mood, and disordered thought. Some medications have demonstrated superiority over placebo or active medicines in reported clinical trials. This article is a brief overview of the safety and efficacy from reported studies of the use of medications frequently used to treat symptoms related to behavior, mood, and thought disturbances, with a specific focus on the clinical applicability of olanzapine.

Figure 1.

Percentage of Responders With Alzheimer's Disease Showing ≥ 50% Improvement on Neuropsychiatric Inventory/Nursing Home Version (NPI/NH) Core Total (hallucinations, delusions, and agitation/aggression) at 6 Weeks^a

Figure 2.

Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score in the Acute Treatment Phase^a