EPA-1609 - Olanzapine, a good choice for tactile hallucinations of blind schizophrenic patients

Abstract

IntroductionBecause blind patients with schizophrenia are not so many, we don't have much information about their psychotic symptoms, neither about their treatment.ObjectivesThe hallucinations of blind schizophrenic patients could be different from unblind patients, due to impairment of their visual function.AimsAnalysis of psychotic symptoms and antipsychotic treatment of blind schizophrenic patients could provide new information about their features and treatment.MethodsWe had two case studies, both diagnosed with schizophrenia, multiple episodes, currently in acute episode according to DSM V. Both patients were treated with olanzapine 10mg/day.ResultsThe psychotic symptoms of both patients had the same particularity, the presence of tactile hallucinations (both patients describe insects moving on and in the skin, with repeated attempts to remove them, producing secondary skin lesions). Both patients had a good response and remission of this symptoms after 14 days of treatment with olanzapine 10mg/day. The PANSS score had a reduction on hallucinatory behavior item from 5 to 1 for the first patient and from 6 to 2 for the second patient, for both after 14 days of treatment.ConclusionsWe presume that tactile hallucinations could be specific for these two cases. Treatment with olanzapine (an antipsychotic with a large receptoral spectrum) was a good choice in these cases.

Tactile and Somatic Hallucinations in a Muslim Population of Psychotic Patients

“…In clinical practice, Western health professionals may be inclined to treat these phenomena as hallucinations and delusions in the context of psychotic disorder. In the literature, evidence for the effects of antipsychotics on tactile and somatic hallucinations is only presented in case reports, with a favorable role for olanzapine (24,25). However, there is a more extensive body of literature that stresses the importancein cases such as these-of a culture-sensitive approach which may include religious counseling and/or culturally adapted cognitivebehavioral therapy (16,26,27).…”

Data_Sheet_1.PDF

“…In clinical practice, Western health professionals may be inclined to treat these phenomena as hallucinations and delusions in the context of psychotic disorder. In the literature, evidence for the effects of antipsychotics on tactile and somatic hallucinations is only presented in case reports, with a favorable role for olanzapine (24,25). However, there is a more extensive body of literature that stresses the importancein cases such as these-of a culture-sensitive approach which may include religious counseling and/or culturally adapted cognitivebehavioral therapy (16,26,27).…”