Pu C, Huang B, Zhou T, et al. - Among patients with first-episode schizophrenia during the first year of treatment, researchers here examined how the effectiveness and side effects of three frequently used antipsychotic medicines (risperidone, olanzapine, aripiprazole) differ by gender. They randomly assigned a total of 569 patients with first-episode schizophrenia to risperidone, olanzapine, and aripiprazole. Treatment was provided to the patients according to their actual clinical needs. Baseline Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) total scores and PANSS negative and general pathological scores were higher among males. Female patients receiving risperidone reported more dermatological symptoms (rashes) vs males, female patients receiving olanzapine reported more autonomic side effects and dermatological symptoms vs males, and female patients receiving aripiprazole reported more psychotic side effects vs males after the first year. Among Chinese patients with first-episode schizophrenia, there were gender differences in response to antipsychotic treatments. After the first year of antipsychotic treatment, female patients more frequently had drug-related side effects relative to male patients. Among females vs males, receiving risperidone was correlated with more dermatological symptoms (rashes), receiving olanzapine was correlated with more autonomic side effects and dermatological symptoms, and receiving aripiprazole was correlated with more psychotic side effects.