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Areas of Interest

Image by Hans-Peter Gauster

Mood disorders research

Depressive disorder

  • Smartphone-delivered multicomponent lifestyle medicine intervention for depressive symptoms: A randomized controlled trial. (PI: Dr. KF Chung)

Bipolar disorder

  • A longitudinal follow-up of first-episode bipolar disorder: clinical, cognitive and neuroimaging investigations (PI: Dr. WC Chang)

  • Impairment in reward learning and theory of mind in early-stage bipolar disorder (PI: Dr. WC Chang)​

Neurodevelopmental disorders

  • The impact of comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders ASD/ADHD: a youth epidemiological study (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

Old age psychiatry

  • Does telomere length mediate the cognitive impairment in late-life depression (LLD) (PI: Dr. Calvin Cheng)

  • Inflammation hypothesis for late-life depression (LLD): How the brain connectivity mediates the effect of inflammation on LLD symptoms (PI: Dr. Calvin Cheng)

  • Mortality among older persons with schizophrenia in Hong Kong (PI: Dr. WC Chan)

  • The Reward System in Late-Life Depression: Reactions to Reward and Punishment—A Cross-Sectional Case-Control Study (PI: Dr. Calvin Cheng)

Psychosis studies

Clinical high-risk, schizotypy & subclinical  psychotic symptoms

  • A longitudinal multimodal MRI investigation for clinical and functional outcome prediction in individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis: a prospective 2-year follow-up study (PI: Dr. WC Chang)

  • At-risk mental state (ARMS) features in predicting mental health outcomes: 5-year follow-up outcome study (PI: Dr. YN Suen)

  • CBT as indicated prevention in At-Risk Mental States: an RCT study in Clinical High-Risk groups (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • Clinical High-Risk in the youth epidemiological sample: risk factors and outcomes (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • Evaluation of a large-scale community screening system for CMD and ARMS (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • Glutamatergic abnormalities and prediction of clinical and functional outcomes in individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis: a 2-year longitudinal proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study (PI: Dr. WC Chang)

  • Ideas of reference in population under stress: correlates and subtypes (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • Improving the clinical sensitivity of the Comprehensive Assessment for At-Risk Mental State (CAARMS) in prediction of outcome in Clinical High-Risk subjects: the SK-2 Study (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • Large-scale study of risk factors and outcomes for individuals with psychotic-like symptoms in the community (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • Longitudinal functional outcomes of young people with high schizotypal trait in an epidemiological sample of young people in Hong Kong (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • Network structure and cognitive trajectories of schizotypy in an epidemiological youth sample (PI: Dr. Simon Lui)

  • Probing brain abnormalities for youths with subclinical psychotic symptoms: a population-based multimodal MRI study in Hong Kong (PI: Dr. WC Chang)

  • Psychotic-like experiences and the development of self-concept in an epidemiological sample of young people (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • Public awareness impact of introducing “At-risk mental state” as a novel concept to the population of Hong Kong (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • Trajectories and Predictors in the Clinical High Risk for Psychosis Population: Prediction Scientific Global Consortium (PRESCIENT)” Hong Kong site in a multi-center study (HK site PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

Early intervention and outcome in first-episode psychosis

  • A 20-year follow-up study of clinical, functional and neuro-biological outcomes first-episode schizophrenia spectrum and bipolar affective disorders (PI: Dr. Sherry Chan)

  • A longitudinal multimodal neuroimaging and cognitive investigations in first-episode schizophrenia: a prospective 1-year follow-up study (PI: Dr. WC Chang)

  • Clinical dialogue versus psychoeducation: a new approach to facilitating and integrating illness understanding in psychosis (PI: Dr. Christy Hui)

  • Impact of pharmacotherapy of long term outcome of first episode psychosis: a big data study (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • Long-term clinical and functional outcome of adult-onset patients with delusional disorder and schizophrenia: a 10-year follow-up study (PI: Dr. Christy Hui)

  • Populational factors affecting the impact of early intervention on the long-term outcome of psychotic disorders (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • The impact of early medication discontinuation on the long term outcome of psychotic disorders (PI: Dr. Christy Hui)

  • Unpacking the impact of DUP on the effect of early intervention in psychotic disorders (PI: Dr. Christy Hui)

  • The role of shared decision making on adherence and clinical outcome of early psychosis patients (PI: Dr. YN Suen)

Psychopathology & Neurocognition in psychotic disorders

  • A longitudinal study of the relationship between dopamine synthesis capacity and negative symptoms in first-episode delusional disorder and later-onset schizophrenia (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • A multi-molecular imaging study of dopamine synthesis capacity by PET and glutamate abnormality by MRS in first episode psychosis (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • An ecological study of eye-tracking in ideas of reference (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • An integrated humanistic and neurocomputational framework for psychopathology: the empathic representational approach (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • Experimental investigation of aberrant neurocognitive mechanisms for delusions in first-episode psychosis: a neuro-computational approach (PI: Dr. WC Chang)

  • Exploring the mechanisms of self-referential gaze perception and its potential as an endophenotype in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder (PI: Dr. Sherry Chan)

  • Hot and cool cognitions and their effects on psychopathology and functioning in youth with schizophrenia and autism-spectrum disorder: A longitudinal case-control study (PI: Dr. Simon Lui)

  • Longitudinal study of large scale semantic network in early schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • Molecular imaging predictors on Outcomes of first episode psychosis (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • Multimodal investigation of motivational impairment in first-episode schizophrenia: an incorporation of ecological momentary assessment approach (PI: Dr. WC Chang)

  • Neurocognitive correlates of dopaminergic abnormalities in first episode psychosis (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • Quantitative study of motor in-coordination (postural sway and soft-neurological signs) as markers of neurocognitive dysfunction deficits in first episode psychosis (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • Spontaneous blink rate and salience induced blink rate as clinical markers of first episode psychosis (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • Switching and clustering in semantic memory retrieval as potential clinical markers for outcome prediction of first episode psychosis (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

  • The effectiveness of virtual reality-based treatment for psychosis patients with social withdrawal: A randomized controlled trial (PI: Dr. Christy Hui)

  • Visual stress as a potential clinical marker in psychosis (PI: Prof. Eric YH Chen)

Relapse prediction & treatment-resistance in schizophrenia

  • Effectiveness of Mindfulness Intervention in Prevention of Relapse in Psychosis (PI: Dr. Christy Hui)

  • Long-term consequences of early relapse following remission from first episode psychosis  (PI: Dr. Christy Hui)

  • Multicenter survey of clinician practice and views towards medication discontinuation following remission from first episode psychosis (PI: Dr. Christy Hui)

  • Neurocognitive predictors for relapse/non-relapse in psychotic disorders (PI: Dr. Christy Hui)

  • Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of gamma-aminobutyric acid, glutamate and glutamine concentration of treatment resistance and ultra-treatment resistant schizophrenia (PI: Dr. Sherry Chan)\

  • Real-life Assessment of Aripiprazole Long-acting injection (Abilify Maintena) combined with Brexpiprazole (Rexulti) in Schizophrenia: a naturalistic non-interventional prospective follow-up study (MainRexult) (PI: Dr. Albert Chung)​

Sleep disorder

  • Adjunctive triple chronotherapy (combined total sleep deprivation, sleep phase advance, and bright light therapy) for non-seasonal depression: a randomized-controlled trial to examine efficacy and clinical, circadian and genetic markers (PI: Dr. KF Chung)

  • Changes in allostatic load after cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia: a randomized controlled trial over 12 months in patients with depressive and anxiety disorders and comorbid insomnia (PI: Dr. KF Chung)

  • Zero-time exercise - Integrating exercise into daily life activity at no extra time and cost to improve sleep in physically inactive adults with insomnia disorder: a randomized controlled trial with mixed-method process evaluation (PI: Dr. KF Chung)

Substance use disorders

Substance misuse to Psychiatric disorders under COVID (SToP-COVID)

  • Substance misuse to Psychiatric disorders – the change in Pattern of Psychoactive Substance Misuse under COVID-19 in Hong Kong (PI: Dr. Albert Chung)

Substance misuse to Psychiatric disorder for Cannabis (SToP-C)

  • Substance misuse to Psychiatric disorder for Cannabis (SToP-C) – An Early Assertive Pharmacotherapy Intervention Pilot Study (PI: Dr. Albert Chung)

  • Substance misuse to Psychiatric disorder for Cannabis (SToP-C) – Attitudes and Beliefs of Hong Kong Medical Students about Cannabis (PI: Dr. Albert Chung)

  • Substance Misuse to Psychiatric disorders for Cannabis (SToP-C) Prospective evaluation on Cognitive function and its Genetic vulnerability in cannabis users (SToP-S-PeCoG) (PI: Dr. Albert Chung)

  • Substance misuse to Psychiatric disorders for Cannabis –repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for people with Cannabis Use Disorder (PI: Dr. Albert Chung)

Substance misuse to Psychosis for Stimulants (SToP-S)

  • A prospective Study to the Change in Cognition Function in Stimulant Users (PI: Dr. Albert Chung)

  • Substance misuse to Psychosis for Stimulants (SToP-S) –An Early Assertive Pharmacotherapy Intervention Study (PI: Dr. Albert Chung)

Substance misuse to Psychosis for Ketamine (SToP-K)

  • Substance misuse to Psychosis for Ketamine (SToP-K) A 10-year Register-based Retrospective Cohort Study (PI: Dr. Albert Chung)​​

  • Substance misuse to Psychosis for Ketamine (SToP-K) Who is At Risk? A Case-Control study in Ketamine and Non-ketamine Using Substance Abusers in the Community (PI: Dr. Albert Chung)

  • Substance misuse to Psychosis for Ketamine (SToP-K)  - Who is At Risk? A Case-Control study in Ketamine and Non-ketamine Using Substance Abusers (PI: Dr. Albert Chung)

Chinese traditional medicine in mental health

  • Self-administered acupressure for insomnia disorder: a randomized controlled trial (PI: Dr. KF Chung)

  • The effect of acupuncture for insomnia in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: a randomized, sham-controlled trial (PI: Dr. KF Chung)

Digital Psychiatry

  • A large-scale online screening and self-help tool in response to co-occurring population-level stressors (the Flow tool) (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Digital native vs digital migrant and mental health (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Evaluation of a face-to-face, psychiatrist online advisory service (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Evaluation of brief online intervention for community women in Hong Kong (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Online assessment of cognitive markers in psychosis and youth mental health (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Prevalence and correlates of smartphone use (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • RCT for low-intensity online intervention for distressed youth (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Relationship of digitalization with self-concepts and personal features in youths (PI: Dr. KT Chan)

  • Smartphone-based Ecological Momentary Intervention for Individuals with Depressive Symptoms in the Community: a Randomised Controlled Trial (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

Genetics research

Genetics of common diseases and traits

  • Deep phenotyping and molecular genetic analysis across the spectrum of schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and major depressive disorders (PI: Prof. Pak Sham)

  • Translational Studies for Elucidating the Tumor Heterogeneity and Molecular Evolution in Metastatic Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers for Personalized Medicine (PI: Prof. Pak Sham)

Genetics of rare diseases

  • Translating disease-mechanism discoveries to improve treatment of biliary atresia, an intractable newborn liver disease (PI: Prof. Pak Sham)

Gene regulation and disease

  • Functional and systems analyses of regulatory networks controlling cell fate and lineage of intervertebral disc cells (PI: Prof. Pak Sham)

  • Understanding Cancer Stemness in Liver Cancer – From Regulation to Translational Applications (PI: Prof. Pak Sham)

Non-invasive neuromodulation 

  • A double-blind randomized controlled trial of transcranial direct current stimulation for cognitive enhancement and negative symptoms in schizophrenia (PI: Dr. Edwin Lee)

  • Efficacy and safety of transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) in older adults with mild neurocognitive disorder– an open-label self-controlled trial (PI: Dr. Calvin Cheng)

  • High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) as augmentation therapy in late-life depression (LLD) with suboptimal response to treatment - double-blinded randomized sham-controlled trial (PI: Dr. Calvin Cheng)

Physical health in mental disorders

  • Exercise intervention for women with SMI in the community (PI: Dr. YN Suen)

  • Mortality, life expectancy and physical morbidity in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (PI: Dr. WC Chang)

Psychiatric epidemiology

Service evaluation

  • Effectiveness of nature contact and immersion on affect and psychological distress: secondary analysis from a locally adapted brief forest bathing programme in Hong Kong (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Evaluation of a pilot mental health service for ethnic minority in Hong Kong: a randomised controlled trial (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Experience-sampling method-derived intervention for people at risk for Common Mental Disorder (CMD) (PI: Dr. YN Suen)

  • Flow-Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) in youths (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Parent Education in Mental Health – Primary School (PEMH) (PI: Dr. Calvin Cheng)

  • Provision of Evaluation Study Service for the Pilot Scheme on New Service Protocol for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder with Comorbidity (“ADHD+”) (PI: Dr. YN Suen)

Women Mental Health

  • Jockey Club Mental Wellness Project for Women (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • RCT for group coaching for women who are at-risk for common mental disorder in the community: a randomised controlled trial (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Impact of multiple populational stressors on women mental health in Hong Kong (PI: Dr. YN Suen)

  • RCT for experience sampling method derived feedback for women at risk for common mental disorders (PI: Dr. YN Suen)

  • Experience-sampling method-derived intervention for people at risk for Common Mental Disorder (CMD) (PI: Dr. YN Suen)

Youth Mental Health

  • A quasi-experimental controlled study of the effect of a community-based early intervention model for youth mental (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • An epidemiological study of mental health of young people in Hong Kong (HK-YES): prevalence of psychiatric conditions (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Development and validation of a smartphone-based visual stress assessment in young people (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Development of self-concepts and its mental health correlates among young people of Hong Kong (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Experience Sampling (ESM) data-informed factors for youth mental health in Hong Kong (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Health economics evaluation for youth mental health service in Hong Kong (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Interactions between symptom dimensions in a large epidemiological youth sample in Hong Kong (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Loneliness & boredom and positive solitude in young people (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Naturalistic evaluation of a community-based early intervention model for youth mental health in Hong Kong (LevelMind@JC 賽馬會平行心間計劃 ) (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Prediction of 1-year follow-up mental health outcomes using data from a large-scale epidemiological youth sample (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation and behaviours in a representative epidemiological youth sample in Hong Kong: the significance of suicide-related rumination, family functioning, and ongoing population-level stressors (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Prevalence and correlates of trypophobia among young people in Hong Kong (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • PTSD symptoms and relationship to ruminations in response to population-level stressors (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • RCT for group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for distressed youth (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Risk and protective lifestyle factors of mental health of young people (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Socioceconmic, educational, psychological and clinical characteristics of youth Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) in Hong Kong (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Spectrum of eating-related dysfunctions in an epidemiological youth sample (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • The additive and interactive impacts of social unrest and COVID-19 on mental health and the role of event-based rumination (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • The role of nightmares and other sleep-related symptoms in current and prospective mental health outcomes among young people (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • The role of personality dimensions (Big-5) in mediating mental health outcomes (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Transdiagnostic neurocognitive markers for mental health outcomes (e.g. postural sway, blink, randomness, neurological soft signs, working memory, verbal fluency)  (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

  • Visual stress as a prospective marker for depressive symptoms in youth (PI: Prof. Eric Chen)

Other aspects of psychiatry

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