The Adaptation and Feasibility of Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy (NECT) for Late-Onset Psychosis.

The aim of this study is to adapt and feasibility test the narrative component of Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy (NECT) for late-onset psychosis. This study followed the development and feasibility phases of the Medical Research Council framework. The original NECT intervention was adapted based on consultations with service users, experts, and clinicians. The evaluation of the feasibility test of the adapted intervention was guided by Orsmond and Cohn (Occup Particip Health 35(3):169-177, 2015)'s model for feasibility studies. The final adaptations consist of language, readability, and delivery. The adapted intervention was tested for feasibility and acceptability with one group of five patients recruited from a National Health Service (NHS) Trust in UK Results were mixed in participant outcomes and a likelihood of acceptability of the intervention. This indicates the need for a larger scale feasibility test to explore the identified benefits and challenges of implementing NECT in NHS or community settings for late-onset psychosis.

Chinese label for people at risk for psychosis.

AIM: With the movement of early detection and intervention for people at risk for psychosis, there is a growing need for a uniform terminology to describe the condition. A diagnostic label that can adapt into local culture and value may have positive effect in minimizing stigma. This study explored the preference of Chinese label for people at risk of psychosis and its associated stigma in Hong Kong. METHODS: A total of 149 individuals from the general public and 51 health-care professionals were recruited between March 2013 and May 2014. The condition of at risk for psychosis was described in a vignette. Participants' preference of label and perceived stigma of the condition and their basic demographics were collected by self-administered questionnaires. RESULTS: The most preferred Chinese label was 'yun-niang-qi' (developing period, 45%), followed by 'qian-qu-qi' (precursor period, 19%), 'feng-xian-qi' (risky period, 18%), 'zao-xian-qi' (early sign period, 16%) and 'gao-wei-qi' (high risk period, 4%). Gender, age, occupation and previous contact with mental health were not associated with preference of any Chinese label. CONCLUSIONS: The process in searching for this potential and locally accepted label for people at risk for psychosis has raised the awareness among the professionals. A proper label may help promote future clinical research and mental health services in Hong Kong.

Newspaper coverage of mental illness in Hong Kong between 2002 and 2012: impact of introduction of a new Chinese name of psychosis.

AIM: In Hong Kong, 'si-jue-shi-tiao' () was officially adopted as the Chinese translation of psychosis in 2001. The new term covered a broader aspect of psychosis, compared with the original term, 'jing-shen-fen-lie' (), which gave a negative stereotype as a 'mental split-mind disorder'. The current study compared the usage of the two terms, and added evidence to the name changing as anti-stigma strategy. METHODS: The usage and themes of the new Chinese name of psychosis 'si-jue-shi-tiao' was examined in 1217 local newspaper articles in comparison with the traditional Chinese name of schizophrenia 'jing-shen-fen-lie'. RESULTS: Results show that an increase use of 'si-jue-shi-tiao' was found equally across themes, whereas 'jing-shen-fen-lie' was decreasingly used in positive/neutral themes over time. The association of 'jing-shen-fen-lie' with dangerous wordings increased over time, but no change was found with the new name. CONCLUSIONS: Our finding adds to literature on effects of changing new name on public stigma.

Incidence of hospitalization and its associated factors in first-episode psychosis in Hong Kong.

AIM: This study examined the incidence of hospitalization and its associated factors in patients with first-episode psychosis in Hong Kong. METHOD: From 2009 to 2011, 360 patients were recruited consecutively as part of a controlled study of an early psychosis intervention service (the Jockey Club Early Psychosis project) in Hong Kong. Demographic and clinical information were obtained from face-to-face interviews and was reconfirmed using medical records. Factors relating to hospitalization during first episode were explored. RESULTS: The incidence of hospitalization during first-episode psychosis was 57.2%. Patients who were hospitalized had higher antipsychotics chlorpromazine equivalent dosage, higher positive and negative syndrome scale total score, higher Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser others mean score and were more likely to have an acute mode of onset compared with those who were not hospitalized. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalization was common in first-episode psychosis. Future studies are needed to explore possible programmes to prevent hospitalization in patients with first-episode psychosis.

Quality of life and functioning in first-episode psychosis Chinese patients with different antipsychotic medications.

AIM: This study compared the quality of life and functioning of 285 first-episode psychosis Chinese patients with different antipsychotic medications in Hong Kong. METHOD: Under the Jockey Club Early Psychosis project, a total of 285 patients were recruited from all inpatient and outpatient psychiatric units in Hong Kong between 2009 and 2011. In addition to the medication information, patients were assessed with the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms, the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser (UKU), Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS), the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), the Role Functioning Scale, and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 12-Item Health Survey (SF-12) after stabilization of mental condition. Differences between individual antipsychotic medications were compared using anova and multinomial regression model. RESULTS: The results demonstrated significant differences between different antipsychotic medications in the mean of UKU neurological subscore, BARS total score, SOFAS score and SF-12 Mental Component Summary (MCS) score. Patients with haloperidol had higher mean UKU neurological subscore than patients with olanzapine or amisulpride. Risperidone was associated with higher mean BARS total score than olanzapine, amisulpride or sulpiride. Higher mean MCS was found in patients with amisulpride than patients with risperidone. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that antipsychotics have differential associations with the quality of life and functioning in patients with first-episode psychosis. Future prospective study is warranted to investigate if patients with first-episode psychosis will benefit specific type of antipsychotics more than the others.