New antipsychotic drugs are slightly better than older ones

QuestionAre the newer antipsychotics more effective than the old ones? Do they cause fewer extrapyramidal symptoms?

SynopsisIn this meta-analysis, the authors included studies that directly compared new generation antipsychotic drugs (NGA), such as clozapine and olanzapine, with low potency conventional ones (LPA), such as chlorpromazine and thioridazine. Their primary intent was to compare side effects and their secondary intent was to evaluate efficacy. In addition to the usual searches, they accessed many other databases and the Cochrane register of randomised schizophrenia trials. …