An interventional study of Enhanced WELLFOCUS PPT and Culturally adapted NECT in Schizophrenia Patients, sponsored by City University of Hong Kong. Enrolling by invitation at 19 sites in Hong Kong. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-12.
Sponsored by City University of Hong Kong · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Among 33 studies in Schizophrenia with a site in Hong Kong — 5 open to participants now, 5 under way, none of them phase 3. Schizophrenia · Hong Kong.
Among the 33 studies in Schizophrenia with a site in Hong Kong, this one is the 7th largest by planned enrollment of the 30 interventional ones that give a count, is one of 3 that started in 2023, is one of 18 with no phase, and was the 33rd registered.
3,565 studies on the registry are indexed under Schizophrenia; 491 are open to participants now.
Browse Schizophrenia studies →5 of the 33 studies in Schizophrenia with a site in Hong Kong are open now. Recruiting first, the newest first:
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University · Sites in Hong Kong
Ages 18–64
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University · Sites in Hong Kong
Ages 18+
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University · Sites in Hong Kong
Ages 18–65
Kit Wa Chan · Sites in Hong Kong
Ages 18–60
A study can be open while its sites in Hong Kong have not opened yet or have stopped. Only those recruiting at a site in Hong Kong →
Of the 331 Schizophrenia studies recruiting now, 63 (19%) set no upper age limit and 257 (78%) stop at 75 or younger; 42 take children under 18; 83 take healthy volunteers.
This study: 18 Years to 65 Years · all sexes · no healthy volunteers.
The full table on the hub →This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.
33 studies; the count open now beside each. This study's row is marked.
A study in two phases is counted once above. Listed by phase, each with its combined phases: Phase 1 1 · Phase 2 6 · Phase 3 6 · Phase 4 2
First in 2003; this study’s year is marked. 3 started in 2023.
By drug class, each counting the studies that test any of its medicines:
This study's planned enrollment of 210 is above the median of 71 across 2,944 interventional studies indexed under Schizophrenia.
Median enrollment 131 across the 30 interventional studies, 162 across the 3 observational. Of the 25 that completed or were terminated, 3 (12%) have results posted.
This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.
7 of 33 have an industry lead sponsor. The 10 most frequent:
City University of Hong Kong is the lead sponsor of 26 studies on the registry; 13 are open to participants now.
City University of Hong Kong has 1 study filed under Schizophrenia — fewer than ten, so there is no comparison to draw.
1 of the studies in Schizophrenia with a site in Hong Kong that are under way reach primary completion within a year, 0 of them phase 3. Phase 3 first, then by date:
| Study | Primary completion |
|---|---|
| NCT07932236City University of Hong KongEvaluating EWPPT and NECT for People With Schizophrenia | 2026-12-31 |
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Among the 33 studies in Schizophrenia with a site in Hong Kong, from their registry updates:
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The goal of this three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial is to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of two psychological group interventions, Enhanced WELLFOCUS Positive Psychotherapy (EWPPT) and the culturally adapted Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy (NECT) program, in Chinese adults (aged 18 to 65) diagnosed with schizophrenia or related psychotic disorders who live in halfway houses (HWHs) in Hong Kong. The primary outcomes are personal recovery, quality of life, and wellbeing. The secondary outcomes are self-efficacy and meaning in life. Additional outcomes are self-stigma and strengths use. Randomization is done at the halfway house level: each participating HWH is randomly assigned to EWPPT, NECT, or a treatment-as-usual (TAU) control. All participants within a given HWH receive the same condition. This reduces the risk of contamination between residents who live together.
The study has two objectives. Objective 1 is to compare each intervention against the TAU control on these outcomes. Objective 2 is to identify the psychological processes underlying change in each active arm. Participants will be asked to complete standardized paper-and-pencil questionnaires at three time points: at baseline before the group sessions start (T1), immediately after the sessions end (T2), and at 3-month follow-up (T3). A purposive sample of participants will also be invited to an individual face-to-face semi-structured qualitative interview.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
DSM diagnostic criteria
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
All Arm 1 participants receive treatment-as-usual (TAU) provided by the halfway houses, and in addition receive Enhanced WELLFOCUS PPT intervention. The intervention consists of 18 weekly sessions, with each session lasting 1.5, delivered within their residential facility in a group format containing about 7 participants. Quantitative self-report assessments will be completed by these participants at three time points: baseline (T1), immediately post-intervention (T2), and at 3-month follow-up (T3).
Behavioral: Enhanced WELLFOCUS PPT
All Arm 2 participants receive treatment-as-usual (TAU) provided by the halfway houses, and in addition receive the culturally adapted NECT intervention. The intervention consists of 18 weekly sessions, with each session lasting 1.5, delivered within their residential facility in a group format containing about 7 participants. Quantitative self-report assessments will be completed by these participants at three time points: baseline (T1), immediately post-intervention (T2), and at 3-month follow-up (T3).
Behavioral: Culturally adapted NECT
Participants allocated to the control group continue to receive standard HWH care, medication management, and routine rehabilitation activities without the added active psychological protocols.
18-session manualized group psychotherapy (1.5 hours per weekly session) designed specifically for people with schizophrenia in Hong Kong transitional residential settings. It is distinguished from the original 11-session WELLFOCUS PPT through integration of Meaning-Centered Therapy (MCT), particularly utilizing Dr Paul Wong's ABCDE and PURE theoretical models.
Also known as: Enhanced WELLFOCUS Psychotherapy, EWPPT
This intervention blends psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, and narrative therapy. It is distinguished from standard NECT protocols through cultural adaptations tailored for Hong Kong Chinese society such as addressing issues like Chinese "face concern", cultural myths, and offering self-disclosure guidance. In addition, to ensure programmatic consistency and balance statistical power, the standard 20-session NECT framework is consolidated into an 18-session protocol (1.5 hour per session).
Also known as: Culturally adapted Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy
Change of Personal Recovery from T1 to T3
The subjective recovery process of patients is quantified via The Chinese version of the Recovery Assessment Scale (Corrigan et al., 1999; Mak et al., 2016). Comprising 24 items scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), it measures dimensions of hope and self-determination. A sample item is "I have my own plan for how to stay or become well."
Time frame: Pre-intervention (Baseline/T1), immediately post-Intervention (T2), and 3-month follow-up (T3)
Change of Quality of Life from T1 to T3
Subjective quality of life is evaluated using a translated subscale extracted from the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANAS; Priebe et al., 1999). This instrument contains 12 items in total, structured around a 7-point Likert satisfaction scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). A sample item is "In general I am satisfied with my life as a whole." It concludes with binary (Yes/No) objective questions regarding recent social support.
Time frame: Pre-intervention (Baseline/T1), immediately post-Intervention (T2), and 3-month follow-up (T3)
Change of Wellbeing from T1 to T3
Subjective psychological well-being is tracked using The Short Chinese Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (Ng et al., 2014; Stewart-Brown et al., 2009). This brief 7-item scale captures individual's wellbeing on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (none of the time) to 5 (all the time). A sample item is "Dealing with problems well."
Time frame: Pre-intervention (Baseline/T1), immediately post-Intervention (T2), and 3-month follow-up (T3)
Change of Self-Efficacy from T1 to T3
Perceived competence in dealing with stressful situations is evaluated using The Chinese General Self-Efficacy Scale (Schwarzer \& Jerusalem, 1995). This 10-item instrument utilizes a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). A sample item is "When I am confronted with a problem, I can usually find several solutions."
Time frame: Pre-intervention (Baseline/T1), immediately post-Intervention (T2), and 3-month follow-up (T3)
Change of Meaning in Life from T1 to T3
The capacity to construct personal meaning across life domains is captured using The Perceived Personal Meaning Scale (PPMS; Wong, 1998). This 8-item tool measures seven domains (achievement, relationship, religion, self-transcendence, self-acceptance, intimacy, and fair treatment) on a 9-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 9 (strongly agree). A sample item is "My life as a whole has meaning."
Time frame: Pre-intervention (Baseline/T1), immediately post-Intervention (T2), and 3-month follow-up (T3)
Change of Strength Use from T1 to T3
The extent to which people use their strength is evaluated using The Chinese version of the Strengths Use Scale (Govindji and Linley, 2007). This 14-item measure utilizes a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). A sample item is "I am able to use my strengths in different ways." This outcome is administered exclusively to Trial Arm 1 (Enhanced WELLFOCUS PPT) as an internal mechanism indicator.
Time frame: Pre-intervention (Baseline/T1), immediately post-Intervention (T2), and 3-month follow-up (T3)
Change of Self-Stigma from T1 to T3
The level of internalized negative stereotypes is quantified via The Self-Stigma Scale (SSS; Mak \& Cheung, 2010). This 9-item measure utilizes a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree), assessing how deeply individuals embed stigma into their recovery identity. A sample item states "I avoid interacting with others because I am a person in recovery of mental illness." This outcome is administered exclusively to Trial Arm 2 (Culturally Adapted NECT) as an internal mechanism indicator.
Time frame: Pre-intervention (Baseline/T1), immediately post-Intervention (T2), and 3-month follow-up (T3)
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Started Oct 2023 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Dec 2026, 38 months after the start.
Of 753 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Schizophrenia, half reached primary completion within 33 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 17 and three quarters within 56. This study's planned 38 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 766 studies reached it within 32 months; a quarter within 16 and three quarters within 56.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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City University of Hong Kong