Forty-eight RCTs (50 publications) were included. Data on sample sizes were not reported. Quality of studies were rated as either A or B.
The following outcomes were statistically significant compared with risperidone: decreased bodily anxiety or restlessness with quetiapine (OR 0.51, 95% Crl 0.29 to 0.79); decreased extrapyramidal symptoms with quetiapine (OR 0.44, 95% Crl 0.13 to 0.91); increased weight gain with olanzapine (OR 2.14, 95% Crl 1.76 to 2.63); and decreased weight gain with ziprasidone (OR 0.47, 95% Crl 0.32 to 0.66).
There were significantly fewer all-cause discontinuations with olanzapine (OR 0.72, 95% Crl 0.62 to 0.83) and significantly more all-cause discontinuations with quetiapine (OR 1.29, 95% Crl 1.04 to 1.55) and ziprasidone (OR 1.28, 95% Crl 1.02 to 1.58).
Further results were reported in the paper.
Heterogeneity was moderate or low for all outcomes except tiredness, where evidence of high heterogeneity (SD=1.3) was found.