We were able to rank most of the psychotropics based on the available evidence and recommendations from subject matter experts .
There were few discrepancies between published evidence and the expert panel in ranking these drugs .
Conclusion Potential for weight gain is an important consideration in choice of any psychotropic .
This tool will help clinicians select psychotropics on a case-by-case basis in order to minimize the impact of weight gain when making both intra-class and interclass choices
Introduction Psychotropic medication use is associated with  weight gain .
While there are studies and review s comparing weight gain for psychotropics within some classes , clinicians frequently use drugs from different classes to treat psychiatric disorders .
Objective To undertake a systematic review of all classes of psychotropics to provide an all encompassing evidence -based tool that would allow clinicians to determine the risks of weight gain in making both intra-class and interclass choices of psychotropics .
A multicentre placebo‐controlled trial comparing the efficacy of mianserin and chlordiazepoxide in general practice patients with primary anxiety
In a double‐blind multicentre trial in general practice , 144 patients with primary anxiety received daily treatment with mianserin or chlordiazepoxide , 30‐60 mg , or placebo . There were no statistically significant differences in efficacy between the three treatments in the 106 patients who completed the 6‐week trial . However , there was a substantial trend in favour of mianserin ( P= 0.1 ) , but not chlordiazepoxide , over placebo as assessed by the difference in overall improvement on the Hamilton Anxiety Scale . This trend may be clinical ly significant since more patients dropped out from the placebo group because of lack of effect or deterioration than did from the active treatment groups , particularly during the latter part of the trial
We were able to rank most of the psychotropics based on the available evidence and recommendations from subject matter experts .
There were few discrepancies between published evidence and the expert panel in ranking these drugs .
Conclusion Potential for weight gain is an important consideration in choice of any psychotropic .
This tool will help clinicians select psychotropics on a case-by-case basis in order to minimize the impact of weight gain when making both intra-class and interclass choices
Introduction Psychotropic medication use is associated with  weight gain .
While there are studies and review s comparing weight gain for psychotropics within some classes , clinicians frequently use drugs from different classes to treat psychiatric disorders .
Objective To undertake a systematic review of all classes of psychotropics to provide an all encompassing evidence -based tool that would allow clinicians to determine the risks of weight gain in making both intra-class and interclass choices of psychotropics .