Do patients with and without a regular primary care physician have their psychological distress looked after differently?

Background: While qualitative studies suggested that continuity of care by primary care physicians (PCPs) facilitated consultations for psychological problems, there was limited quantitative evidence. This survey compared management of psychological distress between patients with and without a regular PCP.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted with 1626 adult primary care attenders from 13 private and 6 public clinics in Hong Kong.

Enablers to seeking professional help for psychological distress-a study on Chinese primary care attenders.

This study investigated enablers to seeking professional help for psychological distress among Chinese primary care attenders in Hong Kong. Nine focus groups and six individual interviews were conducted among adult patients with/without known distress, significant others of the distressed, and the general public. The identified potential enablers were further investigated in a questionnaire survey with data from 1626 patients.

Evaluation of three rapid oral fluid test devices on the screening of multiple drugs of abuse including ketamine.

Rapid oral fluid testing (ROFT) devices have been extensively evaluated for their ability to detect common drugs of abuse; however, the performance of such devices on simultaneous screening for ketamine has been scarcely investigated. The present study evaluated three ROFT devices (DrugWipe 6S, Ora-Check and SalivaScreen) on the detection of ketamine, opiates, methamphetamine, cannabis, cocaine and MDMA. A liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS) assay was firstly established and validated for confirmation analysis of the six types of drugs and/or their metabolites.

Long-term effects of discontinuation from antipsychotic maintenance following first-episode schizophrenia and related disorders: a 10 year follow-up of a randomised, double-blind trial.

Background: The long-term consequences of discontinuing antipsychotic medication after successful treatment of first-episode psychosis are not well studied. We assess the relation between early maintenance therapy decisions in first-episode psychosis and the subsequent clinical outcome at 10 years.

Methods: This is a 10 year follow-up study, spanning Sept 5, 2003, to Dec 30, 2014, of a randomised, double-blind trial in seven centres in Hong Kong in which 178 patients with first-episode psychosis with full positive symptom resolution after at least 1 year of antipsychotic treatment were given maintenance treatment (n=89; oral quetiapine 400 mg daily) or early treatment discontinuation (n=89; placebo) for 12 months.

The global collaboration on traumatic stress.

Trauma is a global issue. The great majority of the global burden of disease arising from mental health conditions occurs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), among populations in political, economic, and/or cultural transition and those struck by forced migration. These mental health problems frequently arise as a result of traumatic events that adversely affect adults, children, and families, including war, mass violence, natural disasters, and accidents.

Consensus statements on the clinical understanding and use of milnacipran in Hong Kong.

Objective: Our aim is to develop a local consensus to guide medical practitioners and psychiatrists on the use of milnacipran in different psychiatric conditions.

Methods: By utilizing the modified Delphi technique, 12 statements were electronically voted on anonymously for their practicability of recommendation.

Results: There was a very high degree of agreement among the consensus group on 10 finalized consensus statements, but 2 statements were voted down due to a poor degree of agreement.

Family intervention for caregivers of people with recent-onset psychosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: We aimed to systematically review the evidence of the effectiveness of family interventions for caregivers of people with recent-onset psychosis compared with usual psychiatric care. A secondary objective was to directly compare the effects of different types of family interventions.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CINAHL Complete and EBSCOhost were searched to identify relevant randomized controlled trials.

Psychosocial factors associated with physical activity behavior among patients with psychosis.

Introduction: Although physical activity helps to improve functioning and reduce the symptoms of mental illness, physical inactivity remains common in the mental illness population. This study aims to explore the associations between theoretical constructs in relation to physical activity behavior based on psychological theories to examine reasons for physical inactivity in psychosis population.

Methods: One hundred and eighty one Chinese outpatients diagnosed with psychotic disorders were recruited for this cross-sectional study.

Rates and predictors of disengagement of patients with first-episode psychosis from the early intervention service for sychosis service (EASY) covering 15 to 64 years of age in Hong Kong.

Aim: This study aims at assessing the rate and predictors of disengagement of patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) from the early intervention (EI) service in Hong Kong (EASY) that covers age 15 to 64.

Methods: All FEP patients aged 15 to 64 years who were newly registered with the EASY programme of Kowloon West Psychiatric Unit from January to December 2012 were included. Data on socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and disengagement over 3 years of the EI service were obtained retrospectively through systematic clinical record review.

Help-seeking behaviours for psychological distress amongst Chinese patients.

Background: The stepped care model for psychological distress has been promoted in recent years, leading to the enhancing roles of primary care professionals and alternative sources of help. However, most of the research findings come from Western countries. This study investigates help-seeking behaviours of Chinese patients among different types of professional and alternative sources for psychological distress in Hong Kong.

The Contribution of Ageing to Hospitalisation Days in Hong Kong: A Decomposition Analysis.

Background: Ageing has become a serious challenge in Hong Kong and globally. It has serious implications for health expenditure, which accounts for nearly 20% of overall government expenditure. Here we assess the contribution of ageing and related factors to hospitalisation days in Hong Kong.

Validation of the Chinese version of Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) in an adolescent general population.

The Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) is a popular 42-item self-report assessment of psychosis proneness (PP) that has been widely-translated. However, there is as yet no validation of CAPE in non-Western languages. Here, we validated a Chinese translation of CAPE ("CAPE-C") in a young Chinese community sample.

Are psychiatric comorbidities and associated cognitive functions related to treatment response to methylphenidate in boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder?

Background: Methylphenidate (MPH) has been found to be an effective medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, there are neither consistent nor sufficient findings on whether psychiatric comorbidities and associated cognitive functions of ADHD are related to treatment response to MPH in ADHD children.

Objectives: This study investigated whether psychiatric comorbidities, IQ, and neurocognitive deficits are related to treatment response to MPH in ADHD children.

Validation of the Chinese Version of the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule: Findings from Hong Kong Mental Morbidity Survey.

This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (C-CIS-R), and explore its applicability as a diagnostic instrument for common mental disorders (CMDs) in Hong Kong. Its psychometric properties were evaluated among 140 patients and 161 healthy controls. In comparison to the diagnoses made by the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV, the C-CIS-R showed good criterion validity in diagnosing CMDs.

Barriers and facilitators for psychiatrists in managing mental health patients in Hong Kong-Impact of Chinese culture and health system.

Introduction: This study investigated the barriers and facilitators for psychiatrists in managing mental health patients under a Chinese context and a mixed private-public health system.

Methods: Two focus group interviews were conducted to explore the in-depth opinions of psychiatrists in Hong Kong. The themes identified from the focus groups were investigated in a questionnaire survey with data from 83 psychiatrists working in public and private sectors.

Family-based association study of DRD4 gene in methylphenidate-responded Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

The 48-basepair (48-bp) variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in exon 3 of the dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4) is implicated in the etiology of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In particular, ADHD in European-ancestry population is associated with an increased prevalence of the 7-repeat (7R) allele of the exon 3 VNTR. However, it is intriguing to note that the 7R allele has been found to be of very low prevalence in the Chinese general population.

Outcome of a Knowledge Contact-based Anti-stigma Programme in Adolescents and Adults in the Chinese Population.

A lack of knowledge about mental health and stigma of the mentally ill are barriers to the treatment of mental disorders. To reduce these barriers, anti-stigma campaigns using a knowledge contact approach were launched to raise public mental health knowledge by education and to reduce stigma by encouraging contact with individuals with mental disorders. The current study attempted to investigate the outcome of a knowledge contact-based programme in adolescents and adults in the Hong Kong Chinese population.

Prevalence of Maternal Affective Disorders in Chinese Mothers of Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of affective disorders and identify their associated factors among Chinese mothers of preschool children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Autism Spectrum Disorders Multidisciplinary Clinic of the United Christian Hospital from August 2012 to June 2013. All mothers of a consecutive series of preschool children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders at their first visit to the clinic were recruited.

A pilot training program for people in recovery of mental illness as vocational peer support workers in Hong Kong - Job Buddies Training Program (JBTP): A preliminary finding.

Objectives: The present study reviews the delivery of a pilot curriculum-mentorship-based peer vocational support workers training in a Hong Kong public psychiatric hospital. The present paper reports (1) on the development of a peer vocational support workers training - Job Buddies Training Program (JBTP) in Hong Kong; and (2) preliminary findings from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives.

Method: The curriculum consists of 15-session coursework, 8-session storytelling workshop and 50-hour practicum to provide Supported Employment Peer Service (SEPS) under the mentorship of occupational therapists.

A Cross-Diagnostic Investigation of the Differential Impact of Discrimination on Clinical and Personal Recovery.

Objective: Although the negative association between discrimination and recovery has been established, only a few studies have attempted to investigate the underlying mechanism of how perceived discrimination dampens both clinical and personal recovery among people with psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to examine the mediating roles of self-stigma and mental health service engagement in the relationship between perceived discrimination and recovery.

Methods: A total of 374 people (half men and half women; mean±SD age=43.

Prevalence of anxiety disorders in community dwelling older adults in Hong Kong.

Background: Anxiety disorders are prevalent yet under-recognized in late life. We examined the prevalence of anxiety disorders in a representative sample of community dwelling older adults in Hong Kong.

Method: Data on 1,158 non-demented respondents aged 60-75 years were extracted from the Hong Kong Mental Morbidity survey (HKMMS).