Dementia and risk of visual impairment in Chinese older adults.

We had previously identified visual impairment increasing risk of incident dementia. While a bi-directional vision-cognition association has subsequently been proposed, no study has specifically examined the longitudinal association between dementia and incidence of clinically defined visual impairment. In this territory-wide community cohort study of 10,806 visually unimpaired older adults, we examined their visual acuity annually for 6 years and tested if dementia at baseline was independently associated with higher risk of incident visual impairment (LogMAR ≥ 0.

Network analysis of psychiatric symptoms in schizophrenia: Findings from the Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription Patterns for Antipsychotics (REAP-AP).

Aims: Schizophrenia is a major mental disorder with a wide range of psychiatric symptoms. This study explored the structure of psychiatric symptoms of schizophrenia using network analysis in a large representative Asian sample based on a survey of clinical features and treatment used in schizophrenia patients across 15 countries/territories in Asia.

Methods: Data on the demographic characteristics and psychiatric symptoms in schizophrenia patients were extracted from the dataset of the fourth Research on Asia Psychotropic Prescription for Antipsychotics (REAP-AP) project.

Late-life longitudinal blood pressure trajectories as predictor of dementia.

While hypertension is widely recognized as a risk factor for dementia, few observational studies and clinical trials fully accounted for the effect of age on blood pressure (BP) changes prior to dementia onset. In this territory-wide population-based longitudinal study of 16,591 community-living dementia-free older adults, we followed their BP and cognitive status and tested if loss of longitudinal increase in BP in late life was associated with higher dementia risk in 6 years, with consideration of the confounding effects of hypertension, hypotension, BP variability, and other health problems and behaviours and, in the data analysis, exclusion of individuals who developed dementia within 3 years after baseline to minimize risk of reverse causality. Over 72,997 person-years of follow-up, 1429 participants developed dementia.

Risk of incident dementia varies with different onset and courses of depression.

Background: This study aims to examine if risk of dementia differs between adult- and late-onset depression.

Methods: 16,608 community-living dementia-free older adults were followed for 6 years to the outcome of incident dementia. Depression was diagnosed according to international diagnostic guidelines.

The 12-month prevalence of psychotic experiences and their association with clinical outcomes in Hong Kong: an epidemiological and a 2-year follow up studies.

Background: The relationship between the subtypes of psychotic experiences (PEs) and common mental health symptoms remains unclear. The current study aims to establish the 12-month prevalence of PEs in a representative sample of community-dwelling Chinese population in Hong Kong and explore the relationship of types of PEs and common mental health symptoms.

Method: This is a population-based two-phase household survey of Chinese population in Hong Kong aged 16-75 (N = 5719) conducted between 2010 and 2013 and a 2-year follow-up study of PEs positive subjects (N = 152).

Higher Dementia Incidence in Older Adults with Poor Visual Acuity.

Background: Longitudinal evidence of poor visual acuity associating with higher risk of incident dementia is mixed. This study aimed to examine if poor visual acuity was associated with higher dementia incidence in a large community cohort of older adults, independent of the possible biases relating to misclassification error, reverse causality, and confounding effects due to health problems and behaviors.

Methods: A total of 15,576 community-living older adults without dementia at baseline were followed for 6 years to the outcome of incident dementia, which was diagnosed according to the ICD-10 or a Clinical Dementia Rating of 1 to 3.

Higher dementia incidence in older adults with type 2 diabetes and large reduction in HbA1c.

Background: although type 2 diabetes increases risk of dementia by 2-fold, whether optimizing glycemic level in late life can reduce risk of dementia remains uncertain. We examined if achieving the glycemic goal recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) within a year was associated with lower risk of dementia in 6 years.

Methods: in this population-based observational study, we examined 2246 community-living dementia-free Chinese older adults with type 2 diabetes who attended the Elderly Health Centres in Hong Kong at baseline and followed their HbA1c level and cognitive status for 6 years.

Prescription of antipsychotic and concomitant medications for adult Asian schizophrenia patients: Findings of the 2016 Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription Patterns (REAP) survey.

Objective: Regular surveys are important to monitor the use of psychotropic medications in clinical practice. This study examined the psychotropic prescription patterns in adult Asian schizophrenia patients based on the data of the Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription (REAP) 2016 survey.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey across 15 Asian countries/territories collected socio-demographic and clinical data with standardized procedures between March and May 2016.

Longitudinal Trajectories of Psychotic-Like Experiences and Their Relationship to Emergent Mental Disorders Among Adolescents: A 3-Year Cohort Study.

Background: Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) may be important antecedents of psychosis and other mental disorders.

Objective: To investigate distinct longitudinal trajectories of the frequency of PLEs and their relationship to subsequent development of mental disorders.

Methods: A longitudinal study of self-reported PLEs and concurrent traumatic experiences was conducted among 6,198 adolescents through annual classroom assessments over 3 years (2014-2016) using the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences and the Trauma History Questionnaire.

Primary care physicians' perceived barriers on the management of depression in China primary care settings.

Background: Chinese patients with depression have limited access to mental health specialty care because of myriad barriers at different levels. Recently, there has been increased interest in targeting primary care settings for managing depression, because most depressed individuals visit their primary care physicians (PCPs) during the course of their depressive episodes. The present study examined PCPs' perceived barriers on the management of depression.

Association of Daily Intellectual Activities With Lower Risk of Incident Dementia Among Older Chinese Adults.

Importance: Associations between late-life participation in intellectual activities and decreased odds of developing dementia have been reported. However, reverse causality and confounding effects due to other health behaviors or problems have not been adequately addressed.

Objective: To examine whether late-life participation in intellectual activities is associated with a lower risk of incident dementia years later, independent of other lifestyle and health-related factors.

Development and validation of a new cognitive screening test: The Hong Kong Brief Cognitive Test (HKBC).

Objectives: To develop and examine the validity of a new brief cognitive test with less educational bias for screening cognitive impairment.

Methods: A new cognitive test, Hong Kong Brief Cognitive Test (HKBC), was developed based on review of the literature, as well as the views of an expert panel. Three groups of subjects aged 65 or above were recruited after written consent: normal older people recruited in elderly centres, people with mild NCD (neurocognitive disorder), and people with major NCD.

Concurrent benzodiazepine use in older adults treated with antidepressants in Asia.

Unlabelled: ABSTRACTBackground:Little is known about the combined use of benzodiazepines and antidepressants in older psychiatric patients. This study examined the prescription pattern of concurrent benzodiazepines in older adults treated with antidepressants in Asia, and explored its demographic and clinical correlates.

Methods: The data of 955 older adults with any type of psychiatric disorders were extracted from the database of the Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription Patterns for Antidepressants (REAP-AD) project.

Mental health of the old- and new-generation migrant workers in China: who are at greater risk for psychological distress?

Rural-to-urban migrant workers (MWs) are a large vulnerable population in China and, recently, the new-generation MWs (those born in 1980 or later) have become the majority of this population. Examining difference in the epidemiology of poor mental health between the new- and old-generation (those born before 1980) MWs would facilitate mental health promotion efforts. However, very few related studies are available and they produced conflicting findings.

Sleep Duration and Sleep Patterns in Chinese University Students: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis.

Study Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to determine duration and patterns of sleep in Chinese university students.

Methods: English (PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase) and Chinese (SinoMed, Wan Fang Database, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure) databases were systematically and independently searched from their inception until August 16, 2016. Data on sleep duration and sleep patterns of tertiary student population in eligible studies were extracted and pooled using random-effects models.

Prevalence of smoking in patients with bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia and their relationships with quality of life.

Few studies have compared the prevalence of smoking between patients with bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD) and schizophrenia. This study examined the prevalence of smoking and its relationships with demographic and clinical characteristics, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with these psychiatric disorders. A total of 1,102 inpatients were consecutively screened.