Group Cognitive Behavioural Family Intervention (CBFI) for People With Schizophrenia and Their Families...
SchizophreniaPsychosisCognitive behavioural family intervention (CBFI) is a brief psychosocial intervention that incorporates the model of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) into the family context. It builds upon the current trend of family interventions/psychoeducation with refocusing on the cognitive model within the family interpersonal relationship. Existing literature indicates that CBFI may be effective in improving positive and negative symptoms of people diagnosed with schizophrenia immediately following the programme. This mixed-method is to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a CBFI programme for people with schizophrenia and their families in a local context. The findings may accumulate more evidence that CBFI is a brief and effective psychosocial intervention that is adapted to Hong Kong clinical settings.
A Feasibility Study of a Suicide Prevention Video
Suicidal IdeationSuicide Attempts1 moreThis initial study is a pilot feasibility study with a primary objective of assessing the feasibility of a larger study by evaluating the procedures and methodology, as well as collecting pilot data. The eventual research goal is to demonstrate whether a suicide prevention video in addition to standard care for suicidality is an effective strategy to reduce suicidal behaviours in individuals with a history of such. The suicide prevention video is developed as an educational tool to inform participants of the various consequences of suicide as well as giving a message of hope. It is hoped that such an approach will help to reduce future suicidal behaviours in those who have a history of such. If so, then this could be made as a part of the standard of care in treating patients with suicidality.
Mindful Attention Training Workshop for Firefighters
Post Traumatic Stress DisorderMindfulness3 moreThe overarching goal of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of Mindful Attention Training (MAT), a novel mindfulness-based intervention that is specifically developed for firefighters. This project is designed to improve the health of firefighters, an integral, essential component of our national and international communities. Moreover, the study aims to promote health service psychologists by enhancing our contributions to the mental healthcare of firefighters, an understudied and underserved segment of the population by virtue of their service to our communities. This study therefore has significant potential to identify, develop, and promote an effective model of quality, evidence-based mental health promotion and illness prevention by integrating health service psychology into the fire service.
The Efficacy of a Herbal Supplement in the Prevention of PTSD
PTSDPost Traumatic Stress Disorder3 morePsycho-traumatic disorders are a disabling condition whose epidemiological data vary according to the country but also the populations studied and the measuring instruments used. The estimated prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appeared to be increasing in recent years, and this appears to be due, among other things, to the improvement of the standardized evaluation procedure. The survey "Mental Health in General Population", conducted in metropolitan France between 1999 and 2003 on more than 36,000 people estimated its instantaneous prevalence (last month) of a full PTSD was 0.7% in the SMPG overall sample, with almost equal frequency between men (45%) and women (55%). This figure is close to that reported in a European population for the ESEMeD study. A very significant psychiatric comorbidity was found in subjects with PTSD, particularly with mood disorders, other anxiety disorders and addictive behaviors. The link with the suicidal risk was clearly established, which is the gravity of this pathology. The most important publications are made by American teams who have identified and evaluated the treatment of this pathology among veterans of the various wars led by the country.
An Outreach Collaborative Model for Early Identification and Treatment of Mental Disorder in Danish...
DepressionAnxietyDepression and anxiety are prevalent mental disorders among the working population with potentially high personal and financial cost. The aim of the study is to test the applicability of an outreach collaborative model for early identification and treatment of clinical and sub-clinical mental disorders among Danish employees. applicability was examined by I) investigating the fractions of identified and treated clinical and subclinical cases, II) describing the distribution and characteristics of cases identified and III) investigating the effect of allocated treatment. A longitudinal study design with four assessments over 16 months are applied. Six medium-large companies will be included, both public and private cooperations. Self-reporting questionnaires probing for psychopathology will be distributed to all employees in the six consecutively enrolled companies at the four time points. Employees meeting the screening criteria at T1 will be assessed diagnostically. Subjects diagnosed with a clinical mental disorder will be allocated to outpatient psychiatric treatment, and subjects with subclinical conditions will be allocated to preventive cognitive behavioural therapy. Follow-up is conducted 6 and 12 months after initiation of treatment. Participation in the study is voluntary at all levels. Written informed consent will be obtained from participant selected for diagnostic interview and treatment.
Effects of Cannabidiol on Psychiatric Symptoms, Cognition, and Cannabis Consumption in Cannabis...
Schizophrenia Spectrum DisordersCannabis UseA large proportion of people with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, especially in the early stages of the disease, regularly consume cannabis. Cannabis use is associated with poor prognostic outcome; however, there are no effective interventions targeted at reducing cannabis use or its deleterious effects in this population. The present trial is designed to test whether cannabidiol (CBD), a cannabinoid whose effects are in many ways antagonistic to those of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can reduce psychiatric symptoms, cognitive deficits, and cannabis use in people with recent-onset psychosis who regularly consume cannabis.
Tobacco Intensive Motivational and Estimate Risk
Severe Mental DisorderSmoking Cessation1 moreRandomized, open label, prospective study with a 12-month follow-up period. The primary objective evaluates the effectiveness of an intensive anti-smoking programme that informs patients of their individual risk of lung damages and the possibilities of prevention. The main measurement will be having given up smoking in month 12, measurement of self-reported abstinence on the 7 previous days and confirmed by a CO-oximeter test< 10 ppm, between the intervention and control group. A total of 9 urban and rural mental health centres will participate in the study. The intervention group will undergo spirometry and presence and the degree of respiratory obstruction will be assessed. Participants will be given individual information to generate a motivational message about the possibilities of prevention and the information will be maintained for three months by sending text messages (SMS) to their mobile phones. The efficacy of the method and the pulmonary damage variables will be evaluated: smoking cessation at the end of follow-up will be confirmed by cooximetry, and the COPD diagnosis and the severity of the staging for disease will be assessed
Online Parent Training for Children With Behavior Disorders
ParentingDelinquencyThis study evaluates Parenting Wisely (PW), an interactive, computer-based, online parenting program, through a formal randomized trial conducted in collaboration with the juvenile justice system (JJS), the primary market for such a program. Parents of 450 delinquent receiving JJS services as usual (SAU) will be randomly assigned to: PW plus a social networking online discussion forum, PW alone, or SAU. The investigators will also determine the potential marketability of the PW intervention to JJS programs based on the effects of PW on parent report and direct observation measures of parenting behaviors, adolescent behaviors, and family functioning, as well as measures of recidivism and cost savings. User satisfaction, program comprehension, receptivity, and parent self-efficacy will also be assessed. The investigators hypothesize that the two PW interventions (PW only and PW + Social Network) will produce greater reductions in disruptive behavior problems from baseline to 3- and 6-month assessments compared to SAU.
Effects of Cognitive Remediation on Cognition in Young People at Clinical High Risk of Psychosis...
Prodromal SchizophreniaOnset of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, typically occurs during late adolescence or early adulthood often resulting in chronic social and occupational disability. Deficits in cognition and functional outcome often precede the onset of full-blown psychosis although to a lesser degree than observed in schizophrenia. Recent progress in risk identification methodology has enabled reliable detection of persons who appear to be putatively prodromal for psychosis, that is, at clinical high risk (CHR) of developing a psychotic disorder. Since these CHR individuals already evidence cognitive deficits, which increase around the time of conversion, cognition is an excellent treatment target. Furthermore, there is clear evidence, in schizophrenia and in CHR samples, that deficits in cognition are related to poor functional outcome. Thus, treatments targeting cognition may consequently improve functional outcome. The primary aim of the project is to reduce cognitive deterioration and improve cognition among youths at CHR using cognitive remediation and to test the effectiveness of a new cognitive remediation program, the Brain Fitness program, in improving cognition of CHR individuals. A control treatment consisting of video games (VG) will be used. The primary hypothesis is that the BF group will have improved cognition at the end of treatment and 12 months post baseline compared to the VG group. A secondary hypothesis is that improved cognition will be associated with improved functioning. This is a longitudinal, single blind, placebo controlled pilot trial of cognitive remediation in 36 CHR persons. Participants will be randomised to either the BF or VG program, which will be administered over a period of 3 months. Assessments will occur at baseline, post treatment (3 months) and at 12 months after baseline. All subjects will be recruited in year 1 of the project and treatment will be completed by 15 months. The 40 hours of training will occur 4 days a week, for an hour each day, over a period of 10 -12 weeks.
Psychosis: Early Detection, Intervention and Prevention
Prodromal SchizophreniaPsychotic Disorders2 moreThe primary aim of this application is to conduct a randomized, controlled clinical trial of a specialized mental health service delivery system specifically developed for prodromal psychotic disorders. The intervention is Family-aided Assertive Community Treatment (FACT). The goal of the treatment is prevention of psychosis and disability. This study will assess experimentally the clinical effectiveness of this new type of mental health service. Other domains of outcome include cognitive dysfunction and functional disability.