Methods	Allocation: randomised (individually numbered containers of medicines). Blindness: double-blind. Duration: 6 weeks. Setting: multi-centre.
Participants	Diagnosis: DSM schizophrenia (50% first episode). N=463. Age: 16-45 years, mean ~ 28 years. Sex: male and female (proportions not given). History: acute, 60% first hospitalisation, no significant hospitalisation 12 months prior to current admission
Interventions	1. Chlorpromazine: dose range 200-1200 mg/day. N=112. 2. Fluphenazine: dose range 2-16 mg/day. N=115. 3. Thioridazine: dose range 200-1600 mg/day. n=111. 4. Placebo. 2-16 doses. N=125. Plus antiparkinsonian medication as needed for extrapyramidal side effects
Outcomes	Leaving the study early. Adverse effects. Unable to use. Global state: Global rating of severity of illness, improved/not improved -no usable data. Inpatient Multidimensional Psychiatric Scale (IMPS) - no usable data. Ward Behaviour Rating Scale (WBRS) - no usable data.
Notes
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors’ judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Randomised - no further details.
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Individually numbered containers of medicines.
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Double blind, untested.
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	High risk	Study attrition reported (not addressed in analysis).
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	No details.
Other bias	Unclear risk	No details.