Objective:To compare the therapeutic effects and adverse reactions of clozapine and risperidone in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. Methods:80 patients who met the CCMD3 diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia were randomly divided into 2 equal groups, the treatment group and the control group. Patients of the treatment group were given each an initial dose of 25 mg8226;d1 of clozapine PO. The dose was increased progressively to 200-500 mg8226;d1 in 2 weeks. Patients of the control group were given each an initial dose of 1 mg8226;d1 of risperidone PO. The dose was increased progressively to 2-8 mg8226;d1 in 2 weeks. The course of treatment in both groups lasted 8 weeks. The therapeutic effects were assessed with BPRS, adverse reactions, with TESS.Results:The rates of excellent effectiveness in the treatment group and control group were 65.0% and 42.5%, respectively(P<0.05). The main adverse reactions in the treatment group were excessive sedation, salivation, tachycardia and anomalies in leucocytes, while those in the control group were extrapyramidal symptoms, insomnia, agitation, lactation etc..Conclusion:Clozapine was shown to start acting quickly and its therapeutic effects were superior to those of risperidine in the treatment of schizophrenia