"No clinical differences will be found between the three antipsychotics under study - olanzapine, risperidone and haloperidol - on the patients' metabolic profile and weight. "

we aimed to study the effects of antipsychotics, olanzapine, risperidone and haloperidol on development of metabolic syndrome in a drug naïve population suffering from first episode schizophrenia and compared it with a matched healthy control group. We also aimed to examine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome as defined by the two most widely accepted definitions, the ATP IIIA and the IDF.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 18-40 years
• Diagnosis of schizophrenia
• Drug naive on admission

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other psychiatric co-morbidity
• History of severe physical illness
• Alcohol and substance abuse or dependence
• History of pre-existing diabetes or hypertension
• Family history of hypertension or diabetes