Research Projects
Understanding and predicting self-harm in patients with first-episode psychosis

Introduction:
Patients with schizophrenia have 12.6 times higher risk of suicide compared to the general population and self-harm, with or without intent, is a strong predictor of death by suicide. This is also associated with poor outcomes in patients with schizophrenia and more common during the early phase of the illness. Studies about risk factors of self-harm generally reported categorical variables   such as previous suicide attempts or self-harm and sense of helplessness. However, these methodology failed to examine the dynamic nature of the self-harm, life stress and psychopathology. Furthermore, risk is also a dynamic in nature over period of time. In clinical practice, the identification of self-harm risk within an actionable time frame is vital and relies mostly on clinical judgement and assessment tools, which tend to be questionnaire based. An algorithm-based tool would be useful to facilitate the support suicide or self-harm risk assessments in clinical settings. This is an ongoing study funded by the HMRF.

Objectives:

1. To understand the dynamic interaction between clinical and functional variables in predicting self-harm of patients with first-episode psychosis during the first three year of follow up
2. To explore the differential risk factors and dynamic interaction patterns of patient in different age groups
3. To understand the perception of risks from patient and clinician's perspective

Plan of the study and methodology:
First part of the study is to conduct a longitudinal case note review of patients with FEP from three hospitals to obtain longitudinal information on self-harm, suicide attempts, clinical and functional status over three year of period of patients. An algorithm-based risk model will be developed. 
Second part of the study involve prospectively predicting self-harm risk using the algorithm-based model in the clinical settings. The perception of the clinical utility of the risk model of the clinicians will be studied with Delphi survey. Qualitative study of patients with history of self-harm could also be studied. 

Learning and possible achieve of the prospective students:
The student is expected to learn about the clinical rating relevant in psychotic disorders, to learn about research data cleaning and complex dynamic prediction model development. The student will also be able to learn about conducting in-depth qualitative interview with patients and conducting Delphi survey. Student will be carried the research work independently but also as part of the research team.  

Professor Sherry Kit Wa Chan, Department of Psychiatry

Prof Sherry Kit Wa Chan is a psychiatrist trained both in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, who has obtained degree of Mphil from the University of Cambridge and MD from the University of Hong Kong. Prof Chan has published over 200 peer reviewed articles and has been ranked top 1% most cited scholar worldwide in the respective field by Clarivate Analytics since 2020.

Biography
HKU Scholars Hub
Laboratory Homepage
ORCID
kwsherry@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.