Welcome to the 22nd WCP Congress Program Scheduling

Abstract Body

Introduction:

Eating disorders are mental disorders which are found across the globe. At the same time the treatment of eating disorders is largely underpinned by an evidence base which is strongly based in the United States of America and Western Europe, which is a reflection of where research funding for treatment research is most available.

Content:

In this talk, I will describe the differences in terms of approach and family function in eating disorder treatment teams in the United Kingdom and Singapore. I will relate the differences observed by clinicians in these two countries to the socio-cultural contexts of a Western society and a modern, advanced Oriental society, and draw conclusions about practical as well as philosophical lessons we should draw.

Learning points:

By the end of the talk, the audience should be able to:

- Appreciate the differences clinicians may observe between patients with eating disorders and their families in two different countries, both with advanced medical care systems;

- Be able to relate these differences to the specific sociocultural context of these countries;

- Be able to critically evaluate the application of ‘Western’ treatment research to other sociocultural contexts and other countries;

- Have the tools to expand this to considering the psychiatric treatment of other mental disorders in different countries;

- Reflect on how clinicians can best adapt research evidence to deliver psychiatric care to their patients and families which is socio-culturally sensitive and empathetic.

Abstract Body

Objectives

To evaluate Youth Neuropsychiatry as an innovative clinical and research paradigm

Methods

To review the referrals to Youth Neuropsychiatry Program, The University of Hong Kong

Results

Over the first 18 months of operation (January 2019 to June 2020) the Neuropsychiatry Program assessed a total of 38 patients. The majority of them (n=21) had perimenopausal syndromes, cognitive disorders (secondary to encephalitis, ruptured AV fistula or stroke, movement disorders), complex partial epilepsy and atypical presentation of psychoses including anti NMDA psychosis.

During the subsequent 18 months (July 2020 to December 2021) there was a surge of youth referrals, coincided with the period when Hong Kong had the mass street protest followed by the COVID-19 outbreak, which impacted on the study, work, family and social life of the youth referred. Out of the total of 49 referrals, 29 of them were aged 25 or younger (59.2%) and 7 of them between 26 and 30 (14.3%), altogether 36 of them (73.5%). This is in great contrast to the 38 referrals during the first 18 months of whom only two were aged 30 or under (5.3%). Out of these 36 youth, we had unusual clinical pictures such as Functional Neurological Disorder presented as acute onset of Chorea, Hypersomnia/Parasomnia, Dissociative states, Multiple personalities and Bipolar Disorder presented as demonic possession.

Conclusions

Youth Neuropsychiatry can contribute to youth mental health focusing on the brain which is vulnerable to environmental stresses while undergoing major maturational architectural and functional reorganisation during adolescence and young adulthood.