精神健康研究中心第二屆青少年精神健康研討會 (只有英文版本)

Enjoy free admission, all are welcome.
* Seats are limited and will be arranged on a first-come-first-served basis.

Please register on or before 9 November 2026 (Monday) at 9:00 a.m.

The 2^nd Adolescent Mental Health Workshop
Date: 10 November 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Venue: Senate Room (M1603), 16/F, Li Ka Shing Tower, PolyU

Topics and Speakers:

Understanding Risk Factors for the Development of Psychosis: Early Findings from the Adolescent and Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study

Prof. Deanna BARCH
Gregory B. Couch Professor of Psychiatry
Vice Dean of Research
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, and Radiology
Washington University in St. Louis

Abstract:
One of the holy grails of research on psychopathology is to identify early predictors during development that might help us better understand the causes of various forms of mental illness.  Ideally, we would be able to use such information to identify those children or adolescents who might benefit from early prevention or intervention.  However, this is very challenging with forms of mental illness that are relatively less common (such as schizophrenia); even individuals who suffer from such illnesses often experience impairment and distress. We have some clues about early predictors of schizophrenia from previous epidemiological studies, and this presentation will provide a review of what we currently know about factors that foretell psychosis.  However, many of these studies occurred before modern advances in tools to understand brain development.  Thus, this presentation will also focus on emerging findings using data from a novel study of brain development, the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, which is providing a unique opportunity to examine the neural, cognitive, and behavioral correlates and predictors of psychotic-like experiences in childhood, including key interactions with cannabis use. 

Biography:
Deanna Barch’s research focuses on understanding normative patterns of cognitive function and brain connectivity, and on the mechanisms that give rise to the behavioral and cognitive challenges found in illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression, using psychological, neuroimaging, and computational approaches across the lifespan. She is the Vice Dean of Research in Arts & Sciences at Washington University.  She is also the Couch Professor of Psychiatry and a Professor of Radiology. She is Deputy Editor at Biological Psychiatry and Editor-in-Chief of Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science. Prof. Barch is on the scientific boards of the Brain and Behavuior Research Foundation, the One Mind Foundation, the Stanley Foundation, and the Bipolar Discovery Initiative. Prof. Barch served on the Executive Committee of the Association for Psychological Science and the Scientific Council of the National Institute of Mental Health, and currently serves as President of the FLUX Cognitive Neuroscience Society and President of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. She is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a member of the Society for Experimental Psychology. She is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and Co-Chair of the NAM Neuroscience Forum.

Simulation and Manipulation in the Digital Twin Brain of a Functional Brain Network Underlying Mental Illness

Prof. Gunter SCHUMANN
Distinguished Professor and Director
Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS)
The Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence (ISTBI)
Fudan University

Abstract:
Prof. Gunter Schumann MD PhD, Distinguished Professor and Director, Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS) at ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai and Charite University Medicine Berlin advances research in population neuroscience and precision medicine in Europe and globally. Prof. Schumann conceived and is coordinating the environMENTAL Horizon Europe project of 25 partnering institutions, a pioneering investigation of the effect of great global environmental challenges, urbanicity, climate change, pollution and social injustice on brain and mental health (www.environmental-project.org). He coordinates the IMAGEN project, a groundbreaking longitudinal imaging genetics study (www.imagen-project.org), initially funded by the European Commission, the STRATIFY study, funded by the European Research Council (ERC), and the Indian cVEDA study (www.cveda-project.org). Prof. Schumann leads the Nature Commission on Environment, Brain and Mental Health. He has attracted over 45 million Euro in grant funding. Prof. Schumann is a recipient of prestigious awards, including an Advanced Grant of the ERC, a Humboldt Prize of the German Alexander von Humboldt Foundation as well as several awards of the PR China. He is a fellow of the Academia Europaea and the European Academy of Science. 

Biography:
Prof. Gunter Schumann MD PhD, Distinguished Professor and Director, Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS) at ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai and Charite University Medicine Berlin advances research in population neuroscience and precision medicine in Europe and globally. Professor Schumann conceived and is coordinating the environMENTAL Horizon Europe project of 25 partnering institutions, a pioneering investigation of the effect of great global environmental challenges, urbanicity, climate change, pollution and social injustice on brain and mental health (www.environmental-project.org). He coordinates the IMAGEN project, a groundbreaking longitudinal imaging genetics study (www.imagen-project.org), initially funded by the European Commission, the STRATIFY study, funded by the European Research Council (ERC), and the Indian cVEDA study (www.cveda-project.org). Professor Schumann leads the Nature Commission on Environment, Brain and Mental Health. He has attracted over 45 million Euro in grant funding. Professor Schumann is a recipient of prestigious awards, including an Advanced Grant of the ERC, a Humboldt Prize of the German Alexander von Humboldt Foundation as well as several awards of the PR China. He is a fellow of the Academia Europaea and the European Academy of Science. 

Adolescent Risk and Resilience Factors in Mental Health 

Prof. Ole ANDREASSEN
Professor in Psychiatry
Director of Centre for Precision Psychiatry
University of Oslo
Division of Mental Health and Addiction
Oslo University Hospital

Abstract:
The recent genetic discoveries in mental disorders have provided new insights into the molecular underpinnings of mental disorders. While the current approach has been highly successful in outlining the polygenic architecture of mental disorders, the current knowledge is mainly derived from case control design, which limit the clinical applications. Further, understanding the longitudinal aspects of mental disorders and the dynamics of development and outcome are critical for early interventions and clinical impact. Several recent genetic discoveries of has improved our understanding of mental disorders in adolescence. We have investigated more targeted discovery samples linked to relevant clinical use cases, where real-world data together with federated analytical methodology will be critical.We have also developed multimodal approaches combining genetics with other data modalites which has shown  beneficial effects.  In addition, leveraging data from birth cohorts and population samples, enabled by new analytical tools including AI-algorithms and recent availability of longitudinal data, has improved the understanding of risk and resilience factors in adolescence, and how this affect adult disease trajectories.  There are now excellent opportunities to accelerate the translation of psychiatric genetics findings into clinical useful applications. 

Biography:
Ole A. Andreassen is professor in psychiatry and director of Centre for Precision Psychiatry at University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. He received his PhD in psychopharmacology at University of Bergen and post doc training in neuroscience at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University. He finished his psychiatry residency at Oslo University Hospital and is now attending psychiatrist at their Outpatient Clinic. Andreassen’s is leading large-scale, multi-institutional research programs in neuropsychiatric disorders, and has contributed to several genetic discoveries the last decades. His research integrates psychiatric genetics, brain imaging, environmental stressors with clinical data to advance our understanding of disease mechanisms and to develop precision medicine approaches in neuropsychiatric disorders. He co-chairs international consortia in psychiatric genetics and brain imaging and is active in Nordic collaborations in applying biobanks and health data for discovery and clinical translation. 

Early Childhood Development, Mental Well-being and Community Partnerships 

Prof. Patrick IP
Clinical Professor
Tsao Yen-Chow Professor in Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
The University of Hong Kong

Abstract:
Early childhood is a critical period for cognitive development and the emergence of Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other mental health problems. Therefore, emerging studies have explored the relationship among early brain development, Attention-deficit/ Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and mental well-being in young children.

Executive Functions (EFs) begin to emerge early in infancy, with basic skills needed for EFs emerging before three years of age, and more specific skills developing into early childhood. In the past few decades, global evidence have suggested early environmental determinants affecting children's brain development and psychosocial well-being. Community partnerships and effective interventions in early childhood are critical to support vulnerable children and their families in timely manner and prevent the occurrence of long-term developmental, learning and mental health problems.

Environmental risks that children are particularly vulnerable to start at the embryonic stage usually continue through adulthood. This lecture will discuss on evidence-based early childhood interventions and community partnership programs in Hong Kong which are effective to address the needs of disadvantaged children and improve their executive functions, mental health and holistic development. The effectiveness of clinical trial on multi-component parenting intervention to improve social-emotional development of children, and sports mentorship intervention through school partnership will also be examined and discussed as illustrative examples.

Biography:
Prof. Patrick Ip is a Developmental-Behavioural Paediatrician and Clinical Professor in the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at The University of Hong Kong, as well as an Honorary Consultant across major public hospitals, including Queen Mary Hospital, the Duchess of Kent Children’s Hospital, and Hong Kong Children’s Hospital.

His work focuses on advancing mental health and holistic development of children and adolescents. Prof. Ip has led major population-based studies and large-scale community interventions, including KeySteps@JC for early childhood development and the Hong Kong School Physical Fitness Award Scheme, which spans over 200,000 students across 700 schools. He coordinates the territory-wide Comprehensive Child Development Service, serves on key Hong Kong SAR Government policy advisory bodies, and actively collaborates with UNICEF and the WHO on global child health initiatives.