Publications by authors named "Amal Abdel Baki"

Article Synopsis
  • Social anxiety disorder (SAD) often occurs alongside first-episode psychosis (FEP), which can worsen cognitive issues; this study investigates whether group cognitive remediation (CR) is more effective than group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for improving cognition in FEP+SAD patients.
  • Participants with FEP+SAD were divided into two groups, receiving either CR or CBT, and their cognitive performance was measured at various points, showing significant improvement in executive functions and visual memory for those in the CR group.
  • While 44% of participants completed the CR sessions, the study found challenges in engagement and acceptability, suggesting the need for future research to enhance participation in CR programs.
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Article Synopsis
  • Cannabis use is common among individuals with psychotic disorders and can lead to negative outcomes; this study updates previous research on technology-based psychological interventions aimed at reducing cannabis use in this population.
  • The review included 5083 records and found three studies; two quantitative studies indicated that interventions using cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational techniques effectively reduced cannabis use, while one qualitative study explored opinions on these approaches from patients and clinicians.
  • Despite the growth of mobile health solutions, there is a lack of research on internet and app-based interventions for cannabis use in psychosis, highlighting the need for more qualitative studies in developing these technology-based approaches.
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Article Synopsis
  • Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders are serious mental health issues, and the paper discusses a new digital intervention (HoryzonsCa) that aims to improve access to evidence-based support through a secure web platform.
  • The study has several objectives, including translating the platform for English and French speakers, evaluating its acceptability and safety, assessing clinical outcomes, and understanding the impact of sociocultural factors on its use.
  • This feasibility study will involve 100 participants aged 18-50 from Canada, utilizing various data collection methods, and aims to provide insights into the effectiveness of digital mental health services for those with chronic conditions.
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Cannabis use is associated with increased psychosis incidence alongside worse outcomes. The role of cannabis may be complex, vary across patients and over time. Yet, few have examined the longer-term trajectories of cannabis use, symptoms and functioning and their inter-relationships.

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Objectives Access to stable, safe, and affordable housing is an important determinant of health and community integration among people living with mental illness. Previous studies on housing stability, housing satisfaction and residential preferences among people living with mental illness have primarily been conducted among those with extensive service use experiences. First-time mental health service users, and youth in particular, are likely to present with distinct housing needs.

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Aim: This study aims to determine the effect of physical activity on cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating in individuals with a psychotic disorder.

Methods: Twenty-seven participants with a psychotic disorder (55% male; mean age: 30 ± 7.5 years; Caucasian: 66.

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Background: There is a well-established, although complex, association between aggression and psychosis, particularly in the early stages of illness. Some persons display aggressive behaviors even prior to psychosis onset. However, factors associated with aggressive behaviors prior to and at first-episode psychosis (FEP) onset remain underdocumented.

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Objective: There are few tools capable of measuring the personal recovery of individuals presenting with mental disorders that take into account the various dimensions of recovery. Personal recovery encompasses several objectives at the level of autonomy, positive interpersonal relationships, mental and physical health, self-acceptance, the school/professional domain, as well as developing a life project. A team of practitioners and researchers from four countries (Canada, Belgium, France, and Switzerland) adapted the Client Assessment of Strengths, Interests, and Goals (CASIG) tool to more accurately measure these different aspects of personal recovery.

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Background: Although physical activity (PA) is beneficial to young people with early psychosis (YEP) to improve physical health and psychiatric symptoms, few YEP initiate and maintain PA. The sports group interventions offered in early psychosis services had to be suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Telehealth has shown promising results in different fields of health services including for patients with mental health disorders.

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Introduction: Psychotic disorders are associated with academic difficulties. Supported Employment Program (SEP) guidelines have become the gold standard to improve occupational functioning in psychotic disorders. More recently, these guidelines have been adapted to education.

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Objectives: Cannabis use is common in people with early-phase psychosis (EP) and is associated with worse treatment outcomes. Few targeted interventions for cannabis use behaviour in this population exist, most focusing on abstinence, none focusing on harm reduction. Many people with EP will not seek treatment for their cannabis use with current therapeutic options.

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Aim: People living with mental illness are more likely than the general population to experience adverse housing outcomes, including homelessness. The aim of the current study is to examine residential status when participants have their first contact with mental health services, and the correlates of residential status at that moment.

Methods: First-time mental health service users were recruited from seven clinical sites across Québec.

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Background: Cannabis use is highly prevalent in young people with first-episode psychosis (FEP). Most report cannabis use and are often diagnosed with a cannabis use disorder upon admission to specialized services for psychosis. Cannabis use in this population is associated with worse clinical and psychosocial outcomes, rendering it an important clinical target.

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Aims: The objective of this study is to underline the impact of Gaming Disorder on the clinical evolution of patients with First Episode Psychosis. The specific aims of the study are to determine the prevalence of gaming disorder among those patients and assess the consequences of gaming on their clinical trajectory.

Methods: This is a prospective multicenter cohort study that will enrol 800 patients diagnosed with a first episode psychosis, with a follow-up period of up to 3 years.

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Objectives To describe the different issues surrounding the integration of peer support workers (PSW) and family peer support workers (FPSW) into early intervention for psychosis services (EIS): their roles, the impacts of these interventions for patients, their families, and treatment teams, as well as the challenges and facilitators of this process. Method This article, co-authored with PSW and FPSW, presents a description and discussion of the experience of implementing peer support and family peer support in EIS in Québec, supported by a perspective of a review of the scientific and grey literature published in French or English in the last twenty years. Results Eight of the 36 scientific articles and two of the 14 grey literature publications selected were specific to early intervention for psychosis; the remainder were on mental health intervention.

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Previous research has highlighted many of the challenges faced by individuals with psychosis in romantic relationships. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of a novel group intervention for men with first-episode psychosis (FEP) on dating success, romantic and sexual functioning, self-esteem, self-stigma, mentalizing skills, and symptomatology, while using a repeated single-case experimental design and comparing results across two treatment modalities (i.e.

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The use of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic drugs for psychotic disorders in Canada has been historically low compared to other jurisdictions despite advantages of LAIs in improving medication adherence and preventing relapse. In response, treatment recommendations were developed in 2013 by the Canadian Consortium for Early Intervention in Psychosis and other Canadian provincial expert groups. The impact of these guidelines needed to be assessed.

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Innovative technology-based solutions have the potential to improve access to clinically proven interventions for cannabis use disorder (CUD) in individuals with first episode psychosis (FEP). High patient engagement with app-based interventions is critical for achieving optimal outcomes. 104 individuals 18 to 35 years old with FEP and CUD from three Canadian provinces completed an electronic survey to evaluate preferences for online psychological intervention intensity, participation autonomy, feedback related to cannabis use, and technology platforms and app functionalities.

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Aims: High rates of mental illness among individuals experiencing homelessness, as well as documented contacts with psychiatric services prior to episodes of homelessness, indicate that early intervention could play a key role in homelessness prevention. Decision-makers and clinical teams need longitudinal data on housing trajectories following initial contact with psychiatric services, as well as on predictors of risk of housing instability and homelessness. This paper describes the AMONT study, a mixed-methods naturalistic longitudinal cohort study of individuals identified as new psychiatric service users in seven clinical sites across the province of Québec (Canada).

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Background: The limited available data suggest that the prevalence of problem gambling is increased among young adults with first-episode psychosis, possibly due in part to several risk factors for problem gambling that are common in this population. Aripiprazole, a widely used antipsychotic drug, has also been linked to cases of problem gambling, but causality remains uncertain. Although the consequences of problem gambling further hinder the recovery of people with first-episode psychosis, there is a paucity of research about this comorbidity and its risk factors.

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Background: Telepsychiatry has the potential to facilitate access to mental health services for young people with first-episode of psychosis (FEP); however, limited attention has been given regarding the perceptions of mental health providers in this regard.

Objective: To assess service providers' perceptions on the use of telepsychiatry and changes over time.

Methods: Longitudinal survey (conducted at two time points) of 26 service providers, including physicians, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, and peer support workers, recruited from a specialized program for FEP providing telepsychiatry services through REACTS (videoconferencing platform).

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Background: A growing number of studies highlight the importance of emotion regulation in the treatment and recovery of individuals with psychosis and concomitant disorders such as substance use disorder (SUD), for whom access to integrated dual-disorder treatments is particularly difficult. In this context, dedicated smartphone apps may be useful tools to provide immediate support to individuals in need. However, few studies to date have focused on the development and assessment of apps aimed at promoting emotional regulation for people with psychosis.

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