Research Projects
The evolution of psychopathology and neurocognitve functions in first-episode non-affective psychotic disorders, and the predictive roles in the short and long-term trajectories of psychotic disorders: a study of the roles of psychopathological, neurocognitive and environmental factors

Objective and Significance:

- To study the pattern and charaterization of psychopathology, neurocognitive impairment and stressor exposure in early stage of the illness
- To investigate the association between the pattern and characterisation identified with long term clinical and functional outcome

Research Plan and Methodology:

Patients presenting to the EASY servcie with a first episode non-affective psychotic disorder in QMH will be invited to participat in a longitudinal study of initially 3 year duration, with measurements at months 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36. Measurements include detailed psychopathology, and a range of innovative neurocognitive functions such as working memory, attention, executive functions, semantic functions, neurological signs, blinking, visual stress based on our previous findings. Outcomes will be both along quantitively dimensions, such as functioning, quality of life, symptoms dimensions, as well as categorical tragectory outcomes such as suicide, remission, relapse, employment and recovery. This study will focus on the role of environmental stressors at the different time points, to be measured in our recently consolidated rating and experience sampling methodology.

Professor EYH Chen, Chair Professor, Department of Psychiatry

Biography
HKU Scholars Hub
Laboratory Homepage
ORCID
eyhchen@hku.hk

For more information or to express interest for this project, please email the supervisor or the specified contact point in the project description.  Interested candidates are advised to enclose with your email:

1. your CV,
2. a brief description of your research interest and experience, and
3. two reference letters (not required for HKUMed UG students seeking MRes[Med]/URIS projects).

Information on the research programme, funding support and admission documentations could be referenced online at the Research Postgraduate Admissions website. General admission enquiries should be directed to rpgmed@hku.hk.

HKUMed MBBS students interested in the Master of Research in Medicine (MRes[Med]) programme may visit the programme website for more information.  

HKUMed UG students interested in the Undergraduate Research Internship Scheme (URIS) may visit the scheme’s website for more information.