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Dr. LO Ka Ying, Heidi 羅嘉瑩

MBChB (CUHK), MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, FHKAM (Psychiatry)

Clinical Assistant Professor

Member, Young Fellow Committee, The Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists

Member, Public Awareness Committee, The Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists

Member, Research Committee, The Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists

Panel Consultant Member, The University Health Service

Academic Advisor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong

Special Interest Group of Mindfulness, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong

 

The HKU Scholars Hub Page address: https://hub.hku.hk/cris/rp/rp03086
Email: lokaying@hku.hk

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Dr Lo is currently involved in a few exciting projects that provide opportunities for postgraduate research studies. If you are determined to pursue MPhil studies, you are welcome to reach out Dr Heidi Lo in email.  

Biography:

Dr Heidi Lo joined the department as a Clinical Assistant Professor in January 2023. 

 

Prior to entering the department, she received Fellowship of the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists in 2021. She specializes in adult psychiatry and has years of experience treating patients with mood disturbances. She collaborated with non-governmental organisations and community nurses as a community psychiatrist, to disseminate mental health knowledge to the community. She engaged in public awareness events as well. 

 

In an effort to enhance mental health, she investigated neuromodulation (transcranial direct stimulation), which showed an improvement of chronic patients’ cognitive skills. Her first research was awarded the President’s Prize in the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists. To further her interest in neuroimaging and neuromodulation, she attended an intensive training of transcranial magnetic and electrical stimulation in Universitätsmedizin Göttingen in 2019 , and the Oxford Clinical Neuroimaging Course in 2022. She was also trained at the Oxford Centre for functional MRI of the brain at Oxford University, and the Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging at University College London in 2022. She has received the Fellowship Award by the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology (JSPN) in 2024.

 

In order to integrate non-pharmacological interventions into regular psychiatric care, she is interested in exploring psychosocial interventions. She is now accredited by the UK College of Mindfulness Meditation and has mindfulness instruction certification. She is also a co-facilitator in mindfulness practice for the university healthcare and education community.

Research Interests and Focus:

  • Depression and other mood disorders  

  • Neuroimaging and Neuromodulation

  • Suicide Prevention

  • Stigma and Mental Health Promotion  

Research Areas:

Depression and other mood disorders​

  • COVID-19 perseverative cognition and depressive symptoms in Hong Kong: The moderating role of resilience, loneliness and coping strategies. Heidi Ka Ying Lo*, Gabbie Hou Sem Wong, Joe Kwun Nam Chan, Corine Sau Man Wong, Janet Hiu Ching Lei, Yuen Kiu So, Vivian Shi Cheng Fung, Ryan Sai Ting Chu, Albert Kar Kin Chung, Krystal Chi Kei Lee, Calvin Pak Wing Cheng, Wai Chi Chan, Wing Chung Chang, 2023. Journal of Affective Disorders. 337, 86-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.05.058. (impact factor 6.6)

 

  • Temporal trends of antidepressant utilisation patterns in children and adolescents in Hong Kong: a 14-year population-based study with joinpoint regression analysis. Heidi Ka Ying Lo* , Co Co Ho Yi Tong, Joe Kwun Nam Chan, Candice Tze Kwan Kam, Corine Sau Man Wong, Calvin Pak Wing Cheng, Chung Ho, Brian Man Ho Leung, Wilfred Shone Horn Wong, Zoe Hoi Shuen Yu, Wing Chung Chang , 2023.  Journal of Affective Disorders. 344, 61-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.10.055 (impact factor 6.6)

 

Neuroimaging and neuromodulation

  • Concurrent anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with cognitive training to improve cognition in schizophrenia. Ka Ying Heidi Lo*, Helene Janine Hopman*, Sheung Chun Chan, Wai Ho Steven Chau, Pak Wing Calvin Cheng, Kam Yee Cheung, Hiu Ha Debby Lam, Yi Man Mo, Lai Chu Tse, Wing Ho Oscar Wong, Yip Chau Wong, Sau Man Sandra Chan, 2022. Schizophrenia Research. 241, 184-186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2022.01.026 (impact factor 4.6) 

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Suicide Prevention

  • Prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation in the general public during the fifth wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. Heidi Ka Ying Lo*, Joe Kwun Nam Chan, Corine Sau Man Wong, Gabbie Hou Sem Wong, Janet Hiu Ching Lei, Yuen Kiu So, Vivian Shi Cheng Fung, Ryan Sai Ting Chu, Rachel Ling, Albert Kar Kin Chung, Krystal Chi Kei Lee, Calvin Pak Wing Cheng, Wai Chi Chan, Wing Chung Chang , 2024. Frontiers Psychiatry. 14:1252600.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1252600 (impact factor 5.4)  

 

  • The  prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation in Chinese psychiatric patients during the fifth wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong. Heidi Ka Ying Lo*, Joe Kwun Nam Chan, Esther Wing Chi Yip, Eileena Mo Ching Chui, Vivian Shi Cheng Fung, Corine Sau Man Wong, Ryan Sai Ting Chu, Yuen Kiu So, Jacob Man Tik Chan, Albert Kar Kin Chung, Krystal Chi Kei Lee, Calvin Pak Wing Cheng, Chi Wing Law, Wai Chi Chan, Wing Chung Chang , 2023. European Neuropsychopharmacology. 77, 4-11.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.08.485 (impact factor 5.6)  

 

 

  • Recipient of the Fellowship Award for the 120th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology (JSPN) for the field of suicide prevention, emphasizing the importance of culturally sensitive approaches and evidence-based interventions.  

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Stigma and Mental Health Promotion  

  • Mental Health Youth Ambassador, Hong Kong College of Psychiatrist. Serves as a liaison, educating students on developmental mental health and advocating for mental health promotion initiatives. 

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  • Mindshift Educational Networking Programme's student workshop 2023 and 2024.

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  • 約好運動 (Walk and Talk) 2023. Helped in community outreach campaign for awareness raising activities. 

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  • Expert Panel for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice Depression in Bau Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Education for module design and delivery. Contributes expertise in curriculum planning to promote collaborative learning models. 

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  • Lecturer for Master of Psychological Medicine, Descriptive Psychopathology PSY6002, Lecture Topic : Affective and Anxiety Symptoms.

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