OBJECTIVES: Describe reasons for and economic consequences of a switch from various antipsychotics to amisulpride in 150 schizophrenic patients. METHOD: Multi-centre in a “real life” setting study over a 2-year period (Switch=D0; ? 365 days). Data are collected from hospital records of patients switched from various antipsychotics to amisulpride between January 1997, and February 1999. Change in hospitalisation is analysed using 2 hypothesis, partition at D0, and partition at W6 (hospitalisations during the first 6 weeks of amisulpride are attributed to failure of previous treatment and results adjusted to one year). RESULTS: Socio-demographic characteristics observed on the first 25 files suggest that the population of the study does not differ from the general schizophrenic population. Previous treatment (76% classical antipsychotic, 12% atypical antipsychotic) was stopped at D0. The reasons for the switch are lack of efficacy (64%) and side effects (36%). Results show a decrease in hospitalisation after the switch. Partition at D0: -12 days for full time hospitalisation, -38 for part time hospitalisation, - 23 for part time night. Partition at W6: respectively -38, -44 and –23 days. The maximum of days hospitalised decreases after the switch from 338 to 187 for full time hospitalisation, 365 to 208 for part time day and from 62 to 31 for part time night. Outpatients are more regularly followed after the switch:+4 visits for patients followed in community, +3 visits for patients hospitalised at least one time. Initiated dose of amisulpride remains the same after one year. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results show a trend for a decrease in hospitalisation and an increase in outpatients visits. If this is confirmed, it would mean that amisulpride is able to cut the major cost of this disease and to improve the follow-up of schizophrenic patients in community.