Measuring Outcome in Schizophrenia: Differences Among the Atypical Antipsychotics

The advent of the atypical antipsychotics marked a new era in the history of the treatment of psychoticdisorders. To evaluate the published literature about the available atypical antipsychotics—clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, and quetiapine—and select the most appropriate treatment for specificpatients, physicians need to understand the outcome measures used in clinical studies, thepharmacologic differences that explain varying side effect profiles, and pharmacoeconomic assessmentsthat are used in the decision-making process. While the atypical antipsychotics have establishedefficacy in the overall treatment of schizophrenia, they may differ in their effects on factorssuch as cognitive function, overall quality of life, adverse events, and hospitalization status. Each ofthese factors should be considered when weighing treatment options for an individual patient.