The duration of maintenance medication in children with schizophrenia should vary from person to person. In first-episode patients, about 1/4 have consistently poor results and therefore should not be discontinued; about 1/4 recover well and remain well for a longer period of time and can be discontinued for follow-up after adequate consolidation therapy; the other 1/2 have alternating relapses and remissions, and most will relapse within a year if not maintained, so at least about 2 years of maintenance therapy is needed. Patients with recurrent episodes often require long-term maintenance therapy. For patients who require long-term maintenance therapy, the length of time needed should be decided in consultation with the parents and the patient, weighing the pros and cons of taking and stopping the medication.