MHRC Research Seminar: Studying the Association Between Smoking Cues and Psychotic Symptoms in Schizophrenia Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Enjoy free admission, all are welcome.

* Seats are limited and will be allocated on a 'first in, first served' basis.
* Online link will be provided if the seats are full.
* Please note that NO Physiotherapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) CPD points will be offered by the research seminar.

Topic:

Studying the Association Between Smoking Cues and Psychotic Symptoms in Schizophrenia Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Speaker:

Prof. Yim-wah MAK, Associate Professor, School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Abstract:

Schizophrenia is characterised by positive and negative symptoms that are associated with widespread deficits in neurocognitive functions, including attention, verbal learning and memory, executive functions, and spatial working memory. Study finds that many of the deficits in patients with schizophrenia are associated with higher prefrontal cortex dysfunction, are evident during remission, and significantly impact quality of life, even among optimally treated patients with good medication compliance in this way. According to previous studies, the smoking rate among patients with schizophrenia is as high as 90%, and smoking is the main factor in mortality and morbidity in this group. Possible reasons for high smoking rates include the use of nicotine to reduce negative symptoms. To date, there is no functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) evidence of the neural mechanisms underlying the link between nicotine dependence and psychotic symptoms. At this seminar, preliminary findings will be reported on the following areas of the funded project titled: using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) assess the effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for smoking cessation and reduction of psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia:
1. To characterise changes in neural activity pattern obtained by fMRI during resting-state in current smoking and non-smoking patients with schizophrenia;
2. To compare the brain response to smoking cues as captured by task-based fMRI between patients with schizophrenia who are current smokers and those who are not;
3. To examine the association between brain responses on smoking cues and psychotic (positive and negative) symptoms among patients with schizophrenia.