Which neuroleptic would psychiatrists take for themselves or their relatives?

OBJECTIVE: Psychiatrists should be asked which neuroleptic they would prefer for themselves and their relatives in the case of first manifestation of schizophrenia. METHOD: Questionnaires were answered by 66 psychiatrists from 13 different sites in Baden-Wuerttemberg (South West Germany). Only those were included who had treated more than 50 patients with schizophrenia within the last 5 years (n = 54). RESULTS: The psychiatrists were experienced with conventional and most of the atypical agents. Fifty-one point nine percent would take olanzapine as first line treatment, 20.4% risperidone, 13.0% quetiapine, 9.3% amisulpride, 3.7% haloperidol and 1.9% perazine. In four cases, different substances were preferred for oneself and relatives. CONCLUSION: Most psychiatrists would not take conventional neuroleptics, though 70% of prescriptions for schizophrenic patients have been conventional neuroleptics in Germany in 2000. The preferences among atypicals correspond well with the current prescription practice in Germany.