OBJECTIVES: To assess the duration of antipsychotic switching process in the naturalistic treatment of schizophrenia. METHODS: This post hoc analysis used data from a randomized, open-label, one-year trial of olanzapine, risperidone, and typical antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia (N=664), in which switching of antipsychotics was permitted, when clinically warranted. No suggestions were provided to clinicians as to which switching strategy to use or how long the switch process should last. The number of overlapping days between antipsychotics during each switch was calculated for all switching episodes in the study (N=217), by antipsychotic type (typical, atypical), and by specific atypical antipsychotic (olanzapine, risperidone). RESULTS: Most of the switching between antipsychotics (58.5%) was abrupt, with complete discontinuation of the previous antipsychotic the same day or a day after the start of the new antipsychotic. Abrupt switching was most prevalent between the 2 atypical antipsychotics (75.9%), and least prevalent when switching from any typical to atypical antipsychotics (47.0%). The next most prevalent switching strategy involved cross titration lasting 1-7 days (16.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Abrupt switching appears to be the most prevalent antipsychotic switching strategy. Abrupt switching was previously found to provide outcomes comparable to other antipsychotic switching strategies in the treatment of schizophrenia.