I was surprised by the results of the recent study about which antipsychotics mental health professionals would take themselves (Psychiatric Bulletin, 31, ). I was particularly surprised about the popularity of aripiprazole (18.6%) and quetiapine (11.2%), because this is in sharp contrast to recent results suggesting that these are likely to be less effective than olanzapine, risperidone and amisulpride when outcome measures other than Positive and Negative Syndrome Scales (PANSS) scores are applied. This is true for in-patient (Reference Mccue, Waheed and UrcuyoMcCue et al, 2006) and out-patient settings (Reference Lieberman, Stroup and McevoyLieberman et al, 2005; Reference El-Sayeh, Morganti and AdamsEl-Sayeh et al, 2006; Reference Haddad and DursunHaddad & Dursun, 2006; Reference Jones, Barnes and DaviesJones et al, 2006).

Despite this emerging evidence, amisulpride was only preferred by 1.1% and clozapine by 6.9%. It was particularly disconcerting that aripiprazole was preferred by 18.6%, although most people admitted that they had hardly any experience with this drug. It is possible that aripiprazole is seen as being relatively free of side-effects because professionals have not accumulated any experience with the drug and that they are responding to undue influence from pharmaceutical representatives. The study certainly throws up the question why major research results either do not filter through or are not being considered, despite very little evidence with certain drugs. Results from independently funded studies should be disseminated to all colleagues. This may have to be facilitated locally by academic psychiatrists or postgraduate education programmes.