Overview: Before the atypicals were introduced, some of the older antipsychotics were available in oral (pill or capsule) and long-acting (depot) versions. Despite the potential advantages of the depot versions, in those days clinicians in the United States have historically limited the use of long-acting, "depot" antipsychotics to their most treatment-resistant, chronic, patients. Therefore, most clinicians did not routinely consider starting a long-acting antipsychotic early in the course of treatment, such as after the first-episode of schizophrenia.