Pathways to Care in Patients approaching Community Mental Health Satellite Clinics in North India

Abstract

ABSTRACT 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.