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新聞稿（即時發佈）                                                            　　　　    2018年4月25日

本港兒童及青少年精神病數字驚人
《揭開神秘的面紗：瑪麗醫院兒童及青少年精神科個案實錄》
以實例教育病患者及家長樂觀面對

Online version: http://www.seedland.hk/press/DrChan/1804-Mystery/
Press release and Photos: Click Here (OneDrive) or Download (Zip)

「對我而言，工作上最困難的不是工作量或人手問題，而是怎樣可以令公眾不要害怕被標籤，接受有實證的精神科醫學治療。」～陳國齡醫生

根據醫管局數字，2016至17年度在醫管局接受治療的兒童及青少年精神科病人達32,300人，五年間急升近五成！與此同時，兒童精神病例亦趨向更年幼化。一些二、三歲兒童就已出現腦神經發展障礙病徵，而情緒病及焦慮症等亦屢見於六歲以下的患者。在精神科前線服務近30年、現為瑪麗醫院精神科部門主管、兒童及青少年精神科主管、香港大學李嘉誠醫學院精神醫學系榮譽臨床副教授的陳國齡醫生指出，近年由於案例數字急升，兒童及青少年精神科個案的轉介排期亦需時更久，如欲接受公營醫院服務一般要等二至三年。目前香港共有400位精神科專科醫生，150名私人執業，250名在醫館局及公營機構工作，而在醫管局工作有專業資格的兒童及青少年精神科醫生不過30名。

為了讓社會大眾進一步增加對兒童及青少年精神病的認識，以便在各方面支援患者及其家人，陳國齡醫生特別編寫了《揭開神秘的面紗：瑪麗醫院兒童及青少年精神科個案實錄》一書，引述數十個真實個案，涵蓋專注力不足／過度活躍症、自閉症、抑鬱症、焦慮症、驚恐症、進食失調、強迫症及思覺失調等，詳細解說每一位患者和家人如何面對正確治療及走上康復之路。陳國齡醫生表示：「兒童及青少年精神病當中，有四、五成的案例是ADHD（專注力不足／過度活躍症），有三、四成是自閉症，餘下的一、二成則是焦慮症、情緒病，以及更嚴重的精神科病症如思覺失調等。而大部分精神病患者都可以透過治療而改善病情，甚至完全康復。可惜礙於教育不足、資源不足，或是社會上流傳的種種謬誤及偏見，令有需要的孩子未能適時獲得有實證的精神科醫學治療，令病情一再拖延，甚至加劇。是次出版此書，是希望透個更廣泛教育，讓更多人清楚明白精神病是甚麼一回事、如何面對，以及其治療與康復過程。書中引述的不少患者都由我跟進多年，與他們建立了關係。看見他們成長、改變、進步及克服病徵，感覺他們每一個都像自己的孩子，希望透過是次分享，鼓勵更多患者放心接受治療。」

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Press Release (Immediate Release)                                   25th April 2018

The launch of “Unveiling the Mystery: Casebook of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Queen Mary Hospital” by Dr. Phyllis Chan, Chief of Service of the Department of Psychiatry and Head of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Queen Mary Hospital, a testimony to support the recovery of young patients and their families

Online version: http://www.seedland.hk/press/DrChan/1804-Mystery/
Press release and Photos: Click Here (OneDrive) or Download (Zip)

“The most challenging part of my career is neither heavy workload nor the issue of understaffing, but the public’s overwhelming fear of being stigmatized and their refusal to receive evidence-based treatments.” – Dr. Phyllis Chan

From the figures of the Hospital Authority, as many as 32,300 child and adolescent patients received treatment from the Department of Psychiatry in the year 2016-17. Not only has the number risen by about 50% in the past five years, but mental illnesses are observed to be affecting younger children: symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders present in children as young as two or three years old, and mood disorders and anxiety disorders are increasingly common in patients below six. With more than 30 years of experience in psychiatry, and now the Chief of Service of the Department of Psychiatry and Head of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Queen Mary Hospital, and Honorary Clinical Associate Professor of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Phyllis Chan pointed out that the waiting time of the referrals to public hospitals now takes around two to three years due to the significant rise in the number of cases. There are currently 400 psychiatrists in Hong Kong, among which 150 provide private services and 250 work for the Hospital Authority and other public institutions; there are only 30 professional child and adolescent psychiatrists working for the Hospital Authority.

To promote better understanding of child and adolescent mental illnesses among the general public, and to render care and support for patients and their families, Dr. Phyllis Chan compiled dozens of real cases into the book “Unveiling the Mystery: Casebook of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Queen Mary Hospital”; it covers a range of mental illnesses including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, depression, anxiety disorder, eating disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and psychosis. Each case is covered in detail, including how patients and their families handle treatment and walk on the path to recovery. Dr. Phyllis Chan shared, “ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) account for about 40-50% of overall child and adolescent psychiatric cases, autism account for 30-40%, and the rest are anxiety disorder, mood disorder, eating disorder or even more severe mental illnesses like psychosis. Most mental patients can improve or even fully recover after treatment; however, due to limited education, lack of resources and common misunderstanding and prejudices in our society, many children cannot receive evidence-based treatments in time, which further aggravates their conditions. This book hopes to foster understanding of the plethora of symptoms in each mental disorder and the process of attaining referrals, assessments, and treatments. Many of the cases shared in this book were managed by myself for years, and I have established a strong rapport with the patients. Watching them overcome their illnesses and live a meaningful life, I feel as if they were my own children. I hope my sharing will encourage more patients to seek evidence based needed treatment.”

Released by:
Seedland International Limited
On behalf of Seedland Publishing Limited
Tel: 3583 3100                                      Fax: 3583 1331
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Media Enquiries: Ms Adrienne Wong at 9450 9757 or Miss Chanel Leung at 9197 3051