ObjectiveTo explore the effects of drug management skill training on lightening the family burden of schizophrenic patients in their recovery period. MethodsBetween December 2011 and December 2013, 101 patients with schizophrenia were randomly divided into experimental group (n=56) and control group (n=45). The experimental group was given drug management skill training, while the control group only received routine follow-up. The course of the research was six months. Both groups were assessed by the positive and negative syndrome scale on patients' psychological symptoms, and family burden scale of diseases was used to assess the burden of the family. ResultsCompared with the controls, patients in the experimental group improved more in their positive symptoms (t=2.692, P=0.008), negative symptoms (t=2.729, P=0.008), general psychopathology symptoms (t=3.231, P=0.002) and the whole psychiatric symptoms (t=3.870, P<0.001). Moreover, the degree of patients' symptom improvement was positively correlated with the degree of family burden lightening (r=0.44, P<0.001). ConclusionFor patients with schizophrenia, reasonable drug management skill training can effectively improve patients' medication compliance, promote treatment effect and lighten family burden.