ABSTRACT
The study design and methods have been described previ ously.1617 The study began in 1986; this report includes data collected until June 1,1996. All patients were recruited from Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY; the study was conducted according to guidelines of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Glen Oaks, institutional review board. Written in formed consent for the study was obtained from patients and, if available, from family members. Inclusion criteria were (1) a Research Diagnostic Criteria,8-defined diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder based on a Sched ule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia19 interview, (2) total lifetime exposure to antipsychotic medications of 12 weeks or less, (3) a rating of 4 (moderate) or more on at least 1 psychotic symptom item on the Schedule for Affec tive Disorders and Schizophrenia Change Version With Psy chosis and Disorganization Items rating scale (SADS-C+PD),20 (4) no medical contraindications to treatment with antipsy chotic medications, and (5) no neurologic or endocrine dis order or neuromedical illness that could affect diagnosis or the biological variables in the study.
