Lessons learned from research with adolescents with schizophrenia and their families.

The purpose of this study is to present our experiences of conducting a randomized clinical trial of a self-management intervention for adolescents with schizophrenia and their families. Challenges and strategies of recruiting subjects; engaging families in self-management intervention; tailoring interventions for this population were discussed. Participants' comments on their experience were presented. Adolescents and their families are poorly prepared to manage schizophrenia; therefore psychosocial interventions should address their needs. Impaired cognitive functioning in adolescents with schizophrenia should be a target for interventions and should be considered in planning interventions.