Publications by authors named "Fiona Yan Yee Ho"
Introduction: Self-help interventions may offer a scalable adjunct to traditional care, but their effectiveness in relapse prevention is not well-established. Objectives: This review aimed to assess their effectiveness in preventing relapses among individuals with mood disorders.
Methods: We systematically reviewed the pertinent trial literature in Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane databases until May 2024.
Background: Disrupted sleep and rest-activity pattern are common clinical features in depressed individuals. This meta-analysis compared sleep and circadian rest-activity rhythms in people with major depressive disorder (MDD) or depressive symptoms and healthy controls.
Methods: Eligible studies were identified in five databases up to December 2023.
Unlabelled: In the year 2020, Hong Kong experienced four COVID-19 epidemic waves. The present study aimed to examine the transition of sleep disturbances and explore its associated factors across the later three epidemic waves. Among the 1138 respondents who participated in an online survey at the second wave (T1, April 2020), 338 and 378 participants also completed a follow-up at the third (T2, August 2020) and fourth waves (T3, December 2020), respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To prevent the exacerbation of mental health burdens, a growing body of research has recommended a balanced approach that emphasizes both the delivery of mental health treatments to individuals with common mental disorders (CMDs) and the strengthening of protective factors for CMDs among nonclinical populations. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluated the efficacy of a smartphone-delivered multicomponent lifestyle medicine (LM) intervention, Lifestyle Hub, for improving mental health among a nonclinical population of Chinese adults.
Methods: A total of 106 participants with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 total score < 10 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale <8 were randomly assigned to either the Lifestyle Hub intervention group (LH, = 53) or the waitlist control group (WL, = 53).
Objective: Sleep and circadian disturbance is highly comorbid with a range of psychological disorders, especially major depressive disorder (MDD). In view of the complexity of sleep and circadian problems in MDD, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a group-based transdiagnostic intervention for sleep and circadian dysfunction (TranS-C) for improving depressive symptoms and sleep and circadian functions.
Method: One hundred fifty-two adults diagnosed with comorbid MDD and sleep and circadian dysfunctions were randomized into TranS-C group treatment (TranS-C; = 77) or care as usual (CAU; = 75) control group.
Background: This study examined the cumulative risk of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and the associations between overall lifestyle and common mental disorders (CMDs), insomnia, stress, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and functional impairment. Additionally, the treatment preferences for managing CMDs and insomnia were examined.
Methods: A survey was conducted on 1487 Chinese Hong Kong adults, assessing their lifestyle behaviors (i.
Previous research has suggested that individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) experienced alterations in sleep and activity levels. However, the temporal associations among sleep, activity levels, mood, and daytime symptoms in MDD have not been fully investigated. The present study aimed to fill this gap by utilizing real-time data collected across time points and days.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate the effectiveness of small-group nurse-administered cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTI) as an early intervention of mood disorders with comorbid insomnia.
Methods: A total of 200 patients with first-episode depressive or bipolar disorders and comorbid insomnia were randomized in a ratio of 1:1 to receiving 4-session CBTI or not in a routine psychiatric care setting. Primary outcome was Insomnia Severity Index.
Background: Some traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-based integrated health interventions have been used for depression, but pooled efficacy remains unknown.
Aims And Objectives: This study aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy of TCM-based integrated health interventions for relieving depression.
Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Objectives: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy of multicomponent lifestyle medicine (LM) interventions for improving sleep quality have yielded inconsistent findings. This study marks the first meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of multicomponent LM interventions in improving sleep quality.
Methods: We searched six online databases for RCTs that compared multicomponent LM interventions to an active or inactive control group in an adult population and assessed subjective sleep quality as a primary or secondary outcome using validated sleep measures at any post-intervention time-point.
Objectives: The primary objectives of these international guidelines were to provide a global audience of clinicians with (a) a series of evidence-based recommendations for the provision of lifestyle-based mental health care in clinical practice for adults with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and (b) a series of implementation considerations that may be applicable across a range of settings.
Methods: Recommendations and associated evidence-based gradings were based on a series of systematic literature searches of published research as well as the clinical expertise of taskforce members. The focus of the guidelines was eight lifestyle domains: physical activity and exercise, smoking cessation, work-directed interventions, mindfulness-based and stress management therapies, diet, sleep, loneliness and social support, and green space interaction.
Objective: Sleep disruption is a common complaint among patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Modern technology of activity monitoring (actigraphy) enables extended, objective, unobtrusive recording and measuring of daytime and nighttime activity. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the actigraphic sleep patterns in PTSD compared with healthy controls.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: Zentangle® is a self-help art modality purported to have repetitive, mindful, and meditative qualities. It can be a cost-effective intervention, but its effect on affective well-being has been underresearched.
Objective: To evaluate the immediate and 2-wk postintervention effects of Zentangle delivered by a certified Zentangle teacher on affective well-being in the general population.
Background: Lifestyle medicine (LM) is gaining increasing attention as a treatment option for anxiety, but the current state of evidence has not yet been systematically examined.
Methods: Six electronic databases were systematically searched from inception to February 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of multicomponent LM interventions on anxiety symptoms with either care-as-usual, waitlist, no intervention, or attention control group on anxiety symptoms were identified.
Background: Insomnia is a significant health problem in the community. Self-administered acupressure (SAA) may be an alternative strategy to alleviate insomnia.
Purpose: This study is the first to investigate the effects of SAA delivered through a training course in alleviating insomnia disorder compared with sleep hygiene education (SHE).
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and credibility of a smartphone-delivered multicomponent lifestyle medicine (LM) intervention, Lifestyle Hub, as a primary modality for managing depressive symptoms in an adult Chinese population.
Method: Participants with at least a moderate level of depressive symptoms (n = 79), as indicated by a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score of ≥10, were randomly assigned to an LM intervention group (LMG; n = 39; eight weekly sessions) or a waitlist control group (WLG; n = 40).
Results: The intention-to-treat analysis revealed significant improvements in depressive symptoms (d = 0.
Given the growing evidence that a range of lifestyle factors are involved in the etiology of depression, a 'lifestyle medicine' approach can be potentially safe and cost-effective to prevent or treat depression. To examine the effects and acceptability of a group-based, integrative lifestyle medicine intervention as a standalone treatment for managing depressive symptoms, a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in a Chinese adult population in 2018. Participants (n = 31) with PHQ-9 score above the cut-off of ≥ 10, which was indicative of moderate to severe depression, were recruited from the general community in Hong Kong and randomly assigned to lifestyle medicine group (LM group) or care-as-usual group (CAU group) in a ratio of 1:1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This pilot study aimed to examine the efficacy of integrated cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acupressure in treating insomnia and its daytime impairments in a Chinese adult population.
Methods: 40 eligible participants with insomnia were randomly assigned to either the integrated CBT and acupressure (CBTAcup) group (n = 14), the CBT group (n = 13), or the waitlist control (WL) group (n = 13). Participants in the CBTAcup group attended a 2-hour integrated CBT and self-administered acupressure group treatment once per week for six consecutive weeks, while participants in the CBT group attended six weekly 2-hour CBT for insomnia.
Sleep and Mood Disturbances during the COVID-19 Outbreak in an Urban Chinese Population in Hong Kong: A Longitudinal Study of the Second and Third Waves of the Outbreak.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
August 2021
In response to the worsening situation of the COVID pandemic, this follow-up study aimed to assess the impact of the "third wave" of the outbreak on sleep and mood disturbances among Hong Kong citizens. A total of 339 respondents included in our last study during the second wave (4-11 August 2020) joined this survey (response rate = 51.1%).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The treatment effect of multi-component LM interventions on depressive symptoms has not yet been examined.
Methods: We systematically searched six databases from inception to February 2020 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving any multi-component LM interventions (physical activity, nutritional advice, sleep management, and/or stress management) on depressive symptoms relative to care as usual (CAU), waitlist (WL), no intervention (NI), or attention control (AC) comparisons.
Results: Fifty studies with 8,479 participants were included.
Background: Depression is a major public health concern. Emerging research has shown that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is effective in treating individuals with comorbid insomnia and depression. Traditional face-to-face CBT-I encounters many obstacles related to feasibility, accessibility, and help-seeking stigma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The COVID-19 pandemic is a large-scale public health emergency that likely precipitated sleep disturbances in the community. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and correlates of sleep disturbances during the early phase of COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: This web-based cross-sectional study recruited 1138 Hong Kong adults using convenience sampling over a two-week period from 6th April 2020.