Early Intervention in Psychiatric Disorders Across Cultures

Professor Eric Y. H. Chen is Chi-Li Pao Foundation Chair Professor in Psychiatry at the University of Hong Kong. He has been leading the development of the early intervention for psychosis in Hong Kong (the EASY program is one of the first comprehensive early psychosis programs in Asia). Under his leadership, the HKU Psychosis Research Unit (PSI) has shown that early intervention produces better long-term outcome for patients with psychotic disorders. Professor Chen and his team has also been studying maintenance therapy in psychosis, demonstrating that after a first episode psychosis, early medication discontinuation and relapse may contribute to adverse long term outcome. Professor EChen and his team has also been studying brain mechanisms in schizophrenia, particularly language and cognitive processes. Professor Chen is one of the leaders in the field of early intervention. Dr Antonio Ventriglio is a psychiatrist working at the Department of Mental Health, and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy. Professor Dinesh Bhugra is Emeritus Professor of Mental Health and Cultural Diversity at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London. Past President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. President of the World Psychiatric Association for a three year term, 2014-2017. Non-Executive Director Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust (special interest in BAME needs and cultural mediation).