Ehm Lee

The Impacts of Yoga On Cortical Thickness, Neural Connectivity and Cognitive Function in Early Psychosis: Preliminary Results From a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background Impairments of attention and memory are evident in early psychosis, and often lead to severe, longstanding functional disability. Effective non-pharmacological interventions are needed due to the unsuccessful results of pharmacological interventions. Aims To determine whether yoga is effective for cognitive impairments, and the neural mechanism underlying these effects. Methods It was a randomized controlled study of 12-week of yoga and aerobic exercise (walking and cycling) intervention vs wait-list control for female early psychotic patients. Memory was measured with Hong Kong List Learning Test and Digit Span test, and attention was measured with Letter Cancellation test. Cognitive data analysis was based on the Intention-to-Treat method using a mixed-model analysis. Seed based functional connectivity was applied using posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) as seed with AFNI. Cortical thickness analyses were performed using FreeSurfer. Results from yoga and control groups were presented. Results A total of 140 women were recruited and randomized into three groups. 95 completed the study, and 115 were included for cognitive data analysis. For imaging data, 42 participants were used for cortical thickness analyses; and 60 were included for neural connectivity analyses. Yoga group demonstrated significant improvements in working memory, verbal acquisition and attention (P=.01). Cortical thickness increased in the postcentral gyrus (P Conclusions Yoga has been found to be effective for memory and attention in early psychotic patients. The increases of thickness and neural connectivity indicate the possible neural mechanisms underlying the improvements of cognition.

The Association Between the Use of Oral Fluoroquinolones and Neuropsychiatric Events: A Self-Controlled Case Series Study

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been suggested as a risk factor for liver, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer. T2DM patients show higher incidences of these cancers compared to the non-diabetic (non-DM) population. Current evidence, however, is inconsistent with respect to the incidences of other gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. Objectives: To determine incidence rates (IRs) of all GI cancers in patients with and without T2DM. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) during 1988-2012. A T2DM cohort of antidiabetic drug users was matched to a non-DM reference cohort, by age, sex, and practice. Crude incidence rates (IRs) per 100,000 person-years (105 py) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated, stratified by age, sex, and calendar period. IRs were compared using the normal theory test. Results: 333,438 T2DM subjects and 333,438 non- DM subjects were analyzed, with a total duration of follow-up of >3.6 million py and 10,977 observed GI cancer cases. Overall, IRs of any GI cancer (IR 330 vs. 276 per 105 py), liver cancer (IR 26 vs. 8.9 per 105 py), pancreatic cancer (IR 65 vs. 31 per 105 py), and colon cancer (IR 119 vs. 109 per 105 py) were significantly higher in the T2DM cohort compared to the non-DM cohort, whereas the IR of esophageal cancer was significantly lower (IR 41 vs. 47 per 105 py, pBackground: Progressive multifocal leukencephalopathy (PML) is a rare, often fatal viral disease, which affects the white matter of the brain. It is caused by John Cunningham (JC) polyomavirus, whi ...The article investigates the special features of state control over international transfer of special-purpose and dual-use goods. It was established what international organizations was created in the international community to determine the principles of control over international transfer of special-purpose and dual-use goods, as well as the question of Ukraines joining the circle of member-states of such organizations. The structure of the system of export control bodies in Ukraine was defined, as well as the main powers of the State Service of Export Control of Ukraine in the sphere of control over international transfer of goods. The essence and the concept of goods over which international transfer state export control is carried out in accordance with the Ukrainian legislation were revealed, as well as special aspects of the procedure of state control over their international transfer.Background: Different antiplatelet regimens are used for secondary prevention after ischemic stroke (IS)/transient ischemic attack (TIA), but studies on the relative effectiveness and safety of each regimen in daily practice are lacking. Objectives: To assess the relative effectiveness and safety of several antiplatelet regimens as secondary prevention in patients after an IS/TIA in clinical practice. Methods: A cohort study was conducted using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Patients aged ≥ 18 years with a first diagnosis of IS/TIA in 1998- 2013 were identified. Antiplatelet exposure was categorized into aspirin-dipyridamole, aspirin-only, clopidogrel-only, aspirin-clopidogrel, other regimens, and no-antiplatelet exposure. The primary effectiveness outcome was a composite endpoint of nonfatal IS, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), or cardiovascular (CV) death; and the safety outcome was major bleeding. Time-dependent Cox regression analysis was used to assess the association between antiplatelet regimens and CV effectiveness and major bleeding outcomes. Results: We followed 20,552 IS/TIA patients for a median duration of 2.3 years. There were 5,714 composite events during follow-up. All regimens were effective in reducing the primary effectiveness outcome compared to no-antiplatelet exposure. Aspirin-only, clopidogrel-only, aspirin-clopidogrel and other regimens were significantly (p <0.05) less effective compared to aspirin-dipyridamole (HR: 1.35, 1.12, 1.40, and 1.27, respectively), adjusted for age, sex, lifestyle factors, disease history and CV comedications. All other regimens were also significantly (p <0.05) associated with a higher relative risk of major bleeding compared to aspirin-dipyridamole (HR: 1.21, 1.32, 1.78, and 1.37, respectively), adjusted for age, sex, alcohol use, liver and renal disease, major bleeding history and comedications. Conclusions: Compared to aspirin-dipyridamole, all other antiplatelet regimens are less effective in reducing the risk of nonfatal IS, nonfatal MI or CV death, and associated with a higher risk of major bleeding in patients with IS/TIA.Characteristics of Patients at Initiation of Treatment for Primary Chronic Immune ThrombocytopeniaBackground: Guidelines for cardiovascular secondary prevention are based on evidence from relatively old clinical trials and need to be evaluated in daily clinical practice. Objectives: To evaluate effectiveness of the recommended drug classes after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) for secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality. Methods: This cohort study used data from a representative sample of the French national healthcare insurance system database (EGB). Patients hospitalised for an incident ACS between 2006 and 2011, and aged ≥ 20 years at time of ACS were included in the study. Patients non-exposed to any of the four recommended drug classes (beta-blockers, antiplatelet agents, statins, and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, ACEI, or angiotensin II receptor blockers, ARB) in the first 3 months following ACS or who died during this period were not included in the cohort. Exposure status was determined daily during follow-up. Effectiveness of the four therapeutic classes in preventing the composite outcome ACS, transient ischemic attack, ischemic stroke, or all-cause-death was estimated using a time-dependent Cox proportional hazards model, which was adjusted for time-fixed confounders measured at baseline (general characteristics and characteristics of the initial ACS) and time-dependent confounders during follow-up (co-morbidities and co-medications). Results: Of the 2874 patients included in the study, 33.9% were women and the median age was 67 years (interquartile range, IQR: 56-77). The median time of follow-up was 3.6 years (IQR: 2.2-5.3). The risk of the composite outcome decreased with use of antiplatelet agents (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63; 0.91), use of statins (aHR 0.71, 95%CI 0.57; 0.87), and use of ACEI/ARB (aHR 0.67, 95%CI 0.57; 0.80). Use of beta-blockers was not associated with a lower risk of the composite outcome (aHR, 0.90, 95%CI 0.74; 1.09]). Conclusions: Use of antiplatelet agents, statins, and ACEI/ARB after an ACS, but not beta-blockers, was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality.Abstracts of the 32nd International Conference on Pharmacoepidemiology & Therapeutic Risk Management, The Convention Centre Dublin, Dublin, Ireland August 25–28, 2016Background: Cough and angioedema are adverse events associated with especially angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors but also reported with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and aliskiren, a direct renin inhibitor (DRI). Susceptibility of developing cough/angioedema with ACE inhibitors depends on ethnicity, which is not documented in spontaneous reporting systems of drug safety. Objectives: To assess the impact of ethnicity on the occurrence of cough/angioedema with renin angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors using information reported to the the World Health Organization database (VigiBase). Methods: A case/non-case study was performed in VigiBase. Cases were defined as reports of cough/angioedema and non-cases were all reports of other adverse events. The reporting countries were divided into three categories: black African countries, East Asian countries and other countries. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between reporting of cough/angioedema with each class of RAS inhibitors stratified by country group and to control for confounding. Results: The reporting of cough with ACE inhibitors was significantly higher in East Asian countries than black African countries and other countries (adjusted reporting odds ratios (RORs): 256, 95%CI (236-278), 48.9, 95%CI (42.7-56.1) and 35.4, 95%CI (34.8- 35.9), respectively. The reporting of angioedema with ACE inhibitors was significantly higher in black African countries than East Asian countries and other countries (adjusted RORs: 55.3, 95%CI (45.5-67.2), 5.29, 95%CI(3.89-7.21) and 16.5, 95%CI (16.1- 16.8), respectively. There was no difference in reporting of cough/angioedema with ARBs and DRI between black African countries, East Asian countries and other countries. Conclusions: Our results by grouping countries according to ethnicity in VigiBase are consistent with previous results in the literature suggesting that the occurrence of cough with ACE inhibitors is higher in East Asian patients and the occurrence of angioedema with ACE inhibitors is higher in black patients. These findings indicate that ethnicity should be included as scientific parameter in pharmacovigilance.An Automatized Model for Sequential Monitoring of Effectiveness of New Drugs using Dronedarone as ExampleGeneral Pharmacological Treatments Preceding A Primary Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia DiagnosisBackground: Several studies showed a bidirectional association between type 2 diabetes and psychiatric disorders in adults. There is limited information available about the association of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Objectives: To assess the extent of psychiatric medication use before and after the onset of T1D in children and adolescents compared with a reference cohort without T1D. Methods: A population-based cohort study was conducted in the Dutch PHARMO Record Linkage System. All children and adolescents <19 years) with at least two insulin dispensings between 1999 and 2009 were identified as a T1D cohort (N=925) and matched with an up to four times larger diabetes-free reference cohort (N=3591) by age and sex. The period prevalences of psychiatric medication use (psycholeptics (ATC N05) and psychoanaleptics (ATC N06)) were calculated by dividing the number of patients with at least one dispensing by the number of patients available in the cohort during that time. Prevalences were calculated from 5 years before until 5 years after the onset of T1D (the index date in both cohorts) and stratified by age, sex, medication subgroup, and before/after the onset of T1D. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 10.1 years and 51% were boys. The 5-year prevalence of psychiatric medication use before the index date was significantly higher in the T1D cohort than in the reference cohort (7.2 vs. 4.7%, respectively, p=0.002). The same pattern was observed for the period after developing T1D (10.4 vs. 7.9% in the T1D and reference cohort respectively, p=0.015). In both cohorts adolescents (15-19 years) and boys had higher prevalences of psychiatric medication use. This increased prevalence of psychiatric medication use both before and after the index date in T1D cohort was mainly driven by an increased use of psycholeptics (mainly anxiolytics). Conclusions: Children with T1D were more likely to use psychiatric medication in the years before and after the onset of type 1 diabetes. This increased use was mainly driven by psycholeptics both before and after onset of T1D.

Neuropsychiatric Events Associated with the Use of Helicobacter Pylori Eradication Therapy Containing-Clarithromycin: Self-Controlled Case Series

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been suggested as a risk factor for liver, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer. T2DM patients show higher incidences of these cancers compared to the non-diabetic (non-DM) population. Current evidence, however, is inconsistent with respect to the incidences of other gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. Objectives: To determine incidence rates (IRs) of all GI cancers in patients with and without T2DM. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) during 1988-2012. A T2DM cohort of antidiabetic drug users was matched to a non-DM reference cohort, by age, sex, and practice. Crude incidence rates (IRs) per 100,000 person-years (105 py) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated, stratified by age, sex, and calendar period. IRs were compared using the normal theory test. Results: 333,438 T2DM subjects and 333,438 non- DM subjects were analyzed, with a total duration of follow-up of >3.6 million py and 10,977 observed GI cancer cases. Overall, IRs of any GI cancer (IR 330 vs. 276 per 105 py), liver cancer (IR 26 vs. 8.9 per 105 py), pancreatic cancer (IR 65 vs. 31 per 105 py), and colon cancer (IR 119 vs. 109 per 105 py) were significantly higher in the T2DM cohort compared to the non-DM cohort, whereas the IR of esophageal cancer was significantly lower (IR 41 vs. 47 per 105 py, pBackground: Progressive multifocal leukencephalopathy (PML) is a rare, often fatal viral disease, which affects the white matter of the brain. It is caused by John Cunningham (JC) polyomavirus, whi ...The article investigates the special features of state control over international transfer of special-purpose and dual-use goods. It was established what international organizations was created in the international community to determine the principles of control over international transfer of special-purpose and dual-use goods, as well as the question of Ukraines joining the circle of member-states of such organizations. The structure of the system of export control bodies in Ukraine was defined, as well as the main powers of the State Service of Export Control of Ukraine in the sphere of control over international transfer of goods. The essence and the concept of goods over which international transfer state export control is carried out in accordance with the Ukrainian legislation were revealed, as well as special aspects of the procedure of state control over their international transfer.Background: Different antiplatelet regimens are used for secondary prevention after ischemic stroke (IS)/transient ischemic attack (TIA), but studies on the relative effectiveness and safety of each regimen in daily practice are lacking. Objectives: To assess the relative effectiveness and safety of several antiplatelet regimens as secondary prevention in patients after an IS/TIA in clinical practice. Methods: A cohort study was conducted using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Patients aged ≥ 18 years with a first diagnosis of IS/TIA in 1998- 2013 were identified. Antiplatelet exposure was categorized into aspirin-dipyridamole, aspirin-only, clopidogrel-only, aspirin-clopidogrel, other regimens, and no-antiplatelet exposure. The primary effectiveness outcome was a composite endpoint of nonfatal IS, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), or cardiovascular (CV) death; and the safety outcome was major bleeding. Time-dependent Cox regression analysis was used to assess the association between antiplatelet regimens and CV effectiveness and major bleeding outcomes. Results: We followed 20,552 IS/TIA patients for a median duration of 2.3 years. There were 5,714 composite events during follow-up. All regimens were effective in reducing the primary effectiveness outcome compared to no-antiplatelet exposure. Aspirin-only, clopidogrel-only, aspirin-clopidogrel and other regimens were significantly (p <0.05) less effective compared to aspirin-dipyridamole (HR: 1.35, 1.12, 1.40, and 1.27, respectively), adjusted for age, sex, lifestyle factors, disease history and CV comedications. All other regimens were also significantly (p <0.05) associated with a higher relative risk of major bleeding compared to aspirin-dipyridamole (HR: 1.21, 1.32, 1.78, and 1.37, respectively), adjusted for age, sex, alcohol use, liver and renal disease, major bleeding history and comedications. Conclusions: Compared to aspirin-dipyridamole, all other antiplatelet regimens are less effective in reducing the risk of nonfatal IS, nonfatal MI or CV death, and associated with a higher risk of major bleeding in patients with IS/TIA.Characteristics of Patients at Initiation of Treatment for Primary Chronic Immune ThrombocytopeniaBackground: Guidelines for cardiovascular secondary prevention are based on evidence from relatively old clinical trials and need to be evaluated in daily clinical practice. Objectives: To evaluate effectiveness of the recommended drug classes after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) for secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality. Methods: This cohort study used data from a representative sample of the French national healthcare insurance system database (EGB). Patients hospitalised for an incident ACS between 2006 and 2011, and aged ≥ 20 years at time of ACS were included in the study. Patients non-exposed to any of the four recommended drug classes (beta-blockers, antiplatelet agents, statins, and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, ACEI, or angiotensin II receptor blockers, ARB) in the first 3 months following ACS or who died during this period were not included in the cohort. Exposure status was determined daily during follow-up. Effectiveness of the four therapeutic classes in preventing the composite outcome ACS, transient ischemic attack, ischemic stroke, or all-cause-death was estimated using a time-dependent Cox proportional hazards model, which was adjusted for time-fixed confounders measured at baseline (general characteristics and characteristics of the initial ACS) and time-dependent confounders during follow-up (co-morbidities and co-medications). Results: Of the 2874 patients included in the study, 33.9% were women and the median age was 67 years (interquartile range, IQR: 56-77). The median time of follow-up was 3.6 years (IQR: 2.2-5.3). The risk of the composite outcome decreased with use of antiplatelet agents (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63; 0.91), use of statins (aHR 0.71, 95%CI 0.57; 0.87), and use of ACEI/ARB (aHR 0.67, 95%CI 0.57; 0.80). Use of beta-blockers was not associated with a lower risk of the composite outcome (aHR, 0.90, 95%CI 0.74; 1.09]). Conclusions: Use of antiplatelet agents, statins, and ACEI/ARB after an ACS, but not beta-blockers, was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality.Abstracts of the 32nd International Conference on Pharmacoepidemiology & Therapeutic Risk Management, The Convention Centre Dublin, Dublin, Ireland August 25–28, 2016Background: Cough and angioedema are adverse events associated with especially angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors but also reported with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and aliskiren, a direct renin inhibitor (DRI). Susceptibility of developing cough/angioedema with ACE inhibitors depends on ethnicity, which is not documented in spontaneous reporting systems of drug safety. Objectives: To assess the impact of ethnicity on the occurrence of cough/angioedema with renin angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors using information reported to the the World Health Organization database (VigiBase). Methods: A case/non-case study was performed in VigiBase. Cases were defined as reports of cough/angioedema and non-cases were all reports of other adverse events. The reporting countries were divided into three categories: black African countries, East Asian countries and other countries. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between reporting of cough/angioedema with each class of RAS inhibitors stratified by country group and to control for confounding. Results: The reporting of cough with ACE inhibitors was significantly higher in East Asian countries than black African countries and other countries (adjusted reporting odds ratios (RORs): 256, 95%CI (236-278), 48.9, 95%CI (42.7-56.1) and 35.4, 95%CI (34.8- 35.9), respectively. The reporting of angioedema with ACE inhibitors was significantly higher in black African countries than East Asian countries and other countries (adjusted RORs: 55.3, 95%CI (45.5-67.2), 5.29, 95%CI(3.89-7.21) and 16.5, 95%CI (16.1- 16.8), respectively. There was no difference in reporting of cough/angioedema with ARBs and DRI between black African countries, East Asian countries and other countries. Conclusions: Our results by grouping countries according to ethnicity in VigiBase are consistent with previous results in the literature suggesting that the occurrence of cough with ACE inhibitors is higher in East Asian patients and the occurrence of angioedema with ACE inhibitors is higher in black patients. These findings indicate that ethnicity should be included as scientific parameter in pharmacovigilance.An Automatized Model for Sequential Monitoring of Effectiveness of New Drugs using Dronedarone as ExampleGeneral Pharmacological Treatments Preceding A Primary Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia DiagnosisBackground: Several studies showed a bidirectional association between type 2 diabetes and psychiatric disorders in adults. There is limited information available about the association of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Objectives: To assess the extent of psychiatric medication use before and after the onset of T1D in children and adolescents compared with a reference cohort without T1D. Methods: A population-based cohort study was conducted in the Dutch PHARMO Record Linkage System. All children and adolescents <19 years) with at least two insulin dispensings between 1999 and 2009 were identified as a T1D cohort (N=925) and matched with an up to four times larger diabetes-free reference cohort (N=3591) by age and sex. The period prevalences of psychiatric medication use (psycholeptics (ATC N05) and psychoanaleptics (ATC N06)) were calculated by dividing the number of patients with at least one dispensing by the number of patients available in the cohort during that time. Prevalences were calculated from 5 years before until 5 years after the onset of T1D (the index date in both cohorts) and stratified by age, sex, medication subgroup, and before/after the onset of T1D. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 10.1 years and 51% were boys. The 5-year prevalence of psychiatric medication use before the index date was significantly higher in the T1D cohort than in the reference cohort (7.2 vs. 4.7%, respectively, p=0.002). The same pattern was observed for the period after developing T1D (10.4 vs. 7.9% in the T1D and reference cohort respectively, p=0.015). In both cohorts adolescents (15-19 years) and boys had higher prevalences of psychiatric medication use. This increased prevalence of psychiatric medication use both before and after the index date in T1D cohort was mainly driven by an increased use of psycholeptics (mainly anxiolytics). Conclusions: Children with T1D were more likely to use psychiatric medication in the years before and after the onset of type 1 diabetes. This increased use was mainly driven by psycholeptics both before and after onset of T1D.

Determinants of subjective quality of life in first-episode psychosis patients receiving specialized early intervention service in Hong Kong

IEPA 10th International Conference on Early Intervention in Mental Health – “Looking Back, Moving Forward” Milan, Italy, 20th – 22nd October 2016

Prevalence, psychosocial and physical health correlates of psychotic disorders in Hong Kong: the Hong Kong Mental Health Morbidity Survey

Background: Cardiovascular and metabolic problems combined with a bad lifestyle are a major cause of a shortened life expectancy in chronic psychotic disorders. While the incidence of cannabis use is twice as high in psychosis compared to the general population, use of cannabis has been associated with better outcomes on cardiometabolic risk factors. This study investigates whether this effect is mediated by the AKT1 gene, as activation of the related enzyme by cannabis may cause changes in metabolism. Methods: Patients with a recent onset psychosis (n=623) were included from a cohort study (GROUP). Cannabis use, based on self-report and urine screening, was related to Body Mass index (BMI). Next the mediating effects of six AKT1 polymorphisms (rs1130214, rs1130233, rs2494732, rs2498784, rs3730358 and rs3803300) were investigated. Results: There was a strong, negative association between BMI and cannabis use. Moreover, two SNPs (rs1130233 and rs2494732) showed an association with cannabis use, but did not mediate the effect of cannabis on BMI. Conclusion: In conclusion, cannabis use results in a lower body weight in patients with a psychosis. While AKT1 is related to cannabis use, it does not affect body mass via AKT1. Instead, AKT1 risk alleles may increase the incidence of cannabis use. Future studies may investigate whether other genes mediate the effect between cannabis and metabolic risk factors.

Aerobic exercise and yoga hold promises for improving neurocognition and symptom in early psychosis

Background: Cardiovascular and metabolic problems combined with a bad lifestyle are a major cause of a shortened life expectancy in chronic psychotic disorders. While the incidence of cannabis use is twice as high in psychosis compared to the general population, use of cannabis has been associated with better outcomes on cardiometabolic risk factors. This study investigates whether this effect is mediated by the AKT1 gene, as activation of the related enzyme by cannabis may cause changes in metabolism. Methods: Patients with a recent onset psychosis (n=623) were included from a cohort study (GROUP). Cannabis use, based on self-report and urine screening, was related to Body Mass index (BMI). Next the mediating effects of six AKT1 polymorphisms (rs1130214, rs1130233, rs2494732, rs2498784, rs3730358 and rs3803300) were investigated. Results: There was a strong, negative association between BMI and cannabis use. Moreover, two SNPs (rs1130233 and rs2494732) showed an association with cannabis use, but did not mediate the effect of cannabis on BMI. Conclusion: In conclusion, cannabis use results in a lower body weight in patients with a psychosis. While AKT1 is related to cannabis use, it does not affect body mass via AKT1. Instead, AKT1 risk alleles may increase the incidence of cannabis use. Future studies may investigate whether other genes mediate the effect between cannabis and metabolic risk factors.

A Pilot Study of Mindfulness-based Intervention for the Depressive Symptoms of Early Psychosis

Background The present pilot study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 7-week mindfulness-based intervention program (MBI-p), as a part of a RCT of larger scale. The MBI-p was developed by the Early Psychosis Studies and Intervention (EPSI) team in Hong Kong designated for patients with early psychotic disorders. In particular, the objective was to investigate the effects of MBI-p on depressive and anxiety symptoms associated with psychosis. Methods An uncontrolled design was used. Nine participants with psychotic disorders received MBI-p were assessed at baseline and post-treatment on outcomes of symptom severity (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, PANSS), depression and anxiety (Calgary Depression Scale, CDS, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, DASS), and mindfulness skills (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, FFMQ). Results Significant improvements were found on the PANSS total score (P Conclusion These pilot results indicated initial effectiveness of a group intervention based on mindfulness principles for patients with early psychosis. Significance in various measures despite small sample revealed a potentially robust effect of improving patients’ mood condition. It provides the foundation for future studies of larger scale and implementation of a promising and cost-efficient treatment option.

Factors for motivational intervention of exercise in patients with psychosis

Cannabis use has been associated with the onset, course and relapse of psychosis. Population studies and data from samples of young people at high risk for psychosis have indicated that cannabis use may be related to the onset of psychosis. Cannabis use has also been found to have a deleterious impact on psychotic symptom severity and has emerged as the strong predictor of psychotic relapse. To date, there has been little collaboration between neuroscience and clinical research groups examining the link between cannabis use and psychosis, despite the potential for these fi elds to inform the other. This symposium seeks to begin to redress this gap.

Community exercise program (FitMind) for patients with psychosis

Cannabis use has been associated with the onset, course and relapse of psychosis. Population studies and data from samples of young people at high risk for psychosis have indicated that cannabis use may be related to the onset of psychosis. Cannabis use has also been found to have a deleterious impact on psychotic symptom severity and has emerged as the strong predictor of psychotic relapse. To date, there has been little collaboration between neuroscience and clinical research groups examining the link between cannabis use and psychosis, despite the potential for these fi elds to inform the other. This symposium seeks to begin to redress this gap.

Public and mental health professionals' attitudes towards psychosis risk syndrome

Abstract presented at the 9th International Conference on Early Psychosis To the New Horizon, 17 November 2014, Tokyo, Japan