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 .
Six-month, blinded, multicenter continuation study of ziprasidone versus olanzapine in schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE The authors ' goal was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of 6 months ' treatment with flexible-dose ziprasidone and olanzapine in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder . METHOD Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale ( BPRS ) scores and Clinical Global Impression ( CGI ) severity scores were obtained for 126 responders to a 6-week acute study of olanzapine and ziprasidone during a blinded 6-month continuation study and optional extension study . RESULTS Comparable improvements in BPRS and CGI severity scores were seen with both drugs . Olanzapine produced significant increases from acute- study baseline values in weight and body mass index and within-group increases in total cholesterol , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol , and fasting insulin . Between-group differences were not significant for lipids and insulin . Mean QTc values at endpoint were 407.1 msec ( baseline mean=406.0 msec ) and 394.4 msec ( baseline mean=399.7 msec ) for ziprasidone and olanzapine , respectively . No patient had a QTc interval > or = 500 msec . CONCLUSIONS Ziprasidone and olanzapine had comparable long-term efficacy ;  olanzapine was associated with significant weight gain and metabolic alterations
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 .