OBJECTIVE： To provide reference for promoting the prior usage of essential medicines and scientifically selecting of antipsychotic medicines in the national and local health insurance directory. METHODS： Entering the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau websites in 10 provinces （autonomous regions or municipalities） （Beijing， Shanghai， Tianjin， Zhejiang， Hainan， Qinghai， Xinjiang， Shanxi， Liaoning， Hubei）， health insurance directory was downloaded to statistically analyze the containing antipsychotic medicines （including 22 national essential medicines）. RESULTS： In antipsychotic medicines， there were 80-88 varieties in the 10 provinces （autonomous regions or municipalities）， with an average of 82.7. 22 essential medicines including 29 specifications were totally recorded by the 10 provinces， of which Beijing had 25 specifications in class A， which had the most specifications， accounting for 86.2％； followed by Shanghai， 23 specifications in class A， accounting for 79.3％； there were only 17 specifications in class A in other areas， accounting for 58.6％. In addition to Beijing and Shanghai， Risperidone tablet was not contained in class A， which was secondary generation antipsychotic drug. In addition， there was only one specification of Lithium carbonate in the antimanic drugs. CONCLUSIONS： The National essential medicine list （2012 edition） is assured for mental disorder in clinical treatment. However， there were some deficiencies such as lack of antimanic drugs. Even though all of antipsychotic essential medicines were contained in 10 provinces， many problems were exposed such as regional imbalance and less secondary generation antipsychotic drug in class A. Therefore， the two lists still need further optimization and improvement.