A version of the category fluency test including the categories of animal and transportation, was administered to 316 Chinese native speakers ranging in age from 7 to 95. Results indicated that the number of items generated in the category fluency test increases with age from childhood to adulthood with a peak performance in adults aged from 19 to 30, and then declines subsequently into late life. All participants, regardless of their age, generated more animal than transportation names. Educational level, but not gender, was a significant factor affecting their performance. The participants in all age groups committed very few intrusion and perseveration errors. The results of the present study were in general consistent with those reported in the western countries. Thus, it seems to be appropriate to apply the category fluency test, which was originally developed in western countries, for clinical use in Hong Kong. (JINS, 1999, 5, 525–533.)

This study aimed at testing whether there were different types of dysfunctional schemas and cognitive distortions that could help to differentiate three emotional/behavioural problems, i.e., anxiety, depression, and aggression, from each other. Five hundred and eighty-one Chinese adolescents from five mainstream high schools in Hong Kong were recruited and completed several self-report questionnaires. Bivariate correlation showed an indiscriminate pattern of association between dysfunctional schemas, cognitive distortions, and the three emotional/behavioural problems. However, when the effects of the confounding correlated emotional/behavioural problems were controlled in regression analysis, different problems did show some specific association with different types of dysfunctional schemas and/or cognitive distortions. Despite some inconsistency, these findings generally supported a specificity hypothesis. Cognitive variables were thus not only relevant in understanding psychopathology, but their different patterns of association with anxiety, depression, and aggression also supported the separability of these three emotional/behavioural problems, despite their significant correlation.

This report described a phased-oriented treatment of complex trauma in four Chinese women. Two women were survivors of childhood sexual abuse, one was a rape victim, and the other was a battered spouse. A phased-oriented treatment that tailored to the needs of the clients was used. The treatment framework consisted of three phases: stabilization, trauma processing, and integration. Hypnotic techniques had been used in these phases as means for grounding and stabilization, for accessing the traumatic memories, and for consolidating the gains. Data from self-reports, observation and objective measures indicates a significant reduction in the trauma symptoms after treatment.

This report describes the successful treatment of a 33-year-old Chinese woman who had affect dysregulation and chronic trauma symptoms resulting from an intra-familial childhood sexual abuse. A strategically phased multimodal treatment tailored to the needs of the client was used. The treatment framework consisted of three phases: training on affect management, strengthening the ego and re-processing the trauma. Hypnosis was utilized as a means for grounding and stabilizing the overwhelming emotions; for addressing the negative self-schema; and also for re-processing the traumatic memories in a safe and controlled way. Data from self-reports, observation and objective measures indicates a signifi cant reduction in the trauma symptoms.

This paper described the application of eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) for addressing the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a Chinese woman who had experienced multiple traumas in her childhood. EMDR is an integrative therapeutic intervention that uses a standardized eight-phase approach to treatment. It is also a proven, effective, and efficient treatment for trauma. In this client with multiple traumas, the etiological event that lay the foundation of her dysfunctional responses was reprocessed first. The successful resolution of this event allowed the positive treatment effects to transfer to other traumatic events of a similar theme. This case also illustrates the importance of identifying a culturally appropriate positive cognition (PC) in contributing to the success of the treatment.