Objective · To compare the effects of long-term use of typical and atypical antipsychotics on cognitive symptoms of the patients with schizophrenia. Methods · One hundred and two long-term inpatients with schizophrenia in Shanghai Jinshan Mental Health Center were included. According to the types of antipsychotics, the inpatients were divided into typical antipsychotics treatment group (typical group) or atypical antipsychotics treatment group (atypical group) with 51 cases each. Mental symptoms were evaluated by Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), and cognitive symptoms were evaluated by Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Results · Ninety-nine patients completed the investigation (49 cases in typical group and 50 cases in atypical group). PANSS score: the negative symptom score in the atypical group was lower than that in the typical group, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.049). RBANS score: The total score of RBANS and the scores of immediate memory, language, attention and delayed memory in the atypical group were significantly higher than those in the typical group (all P<0.05). Conclusion · Compared with the patients who take typical antipsychotics, the patients with schizophrenia who take atypical antipsychotics for a long time have better cognitive symptom scores.