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Mental health, treatment and implementation

The research group is involved in projects related to mental health, ranging from studies examining the implementation and effectiveness of treatment and health services to molecular basic research.

The main focus of this research group is on projects that investigate the quality, implementation, and effectiveness of treatment and health services for individuals with mental health issues. Research on how health services are provided and their impact on patients and their families is an area of great significance for the further development of services. Users, family members, and healthcare professionals' experiences with various types of treatment and services are important elements in the research.

The research group is involved in several large national projects that influence the shaping of Norwegian health policy. Among these are various projects aiming to improve services for patients with severe mental disorders, including the examination of medication-free treatment options and the testing of interdisciplinary treatment teams. They also work to involve more patients in research through the introduction of broad consent.

Their goal is to contribute to high-quality mental health services and services that promote user involvement, user satisfaction, and the reduction of coercion. The purpose is to evaluate and quality-assure the work done in the field of mental health and to explore, test, and communicate new evidence-based practices.

  • Implementation of an evidence-based treatment method (IMR) for individuals with severe mental disorders
  • Is integrated primary health care and mental health services better than current practice for individuals with mental and other illnesses?
  • Improved psychosis treatment (Implementation of national guidelines for psychosis treatment)
  • Establishment of medication-free residential services
  • Collaboration with family members for severe mental health issues
  • Research-based evaluation of ACT teams in Norway
  • Crisis teams in adult mental health services
  • Open dialogue
  • Research-based evaluation of FACT teams
  • Autoimmunity and violence
  • Cognitive impairment and kidney transplant recipients

Kristin Sverdvik Heiervang (Leader)
Academic Degree
Ph.D. and Psychologist

Current Research Field
Psychosocial treatment for severe mental disorders, implementation of evidence-based practices, outreach treatment teams (ACT teams), implementation and use of IMR, collaboration, family collaboration, service quality, and patient experiences

Position
Senior Researcher

Email: Kristin.S.Heiervang@ahus.no

Profile on researchgate.net
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kristin-Heiervang

Profile on Cristin.no
https://app.cristin.no/persons/show.jsf?id=13369

Regina Fröding
Academic Degree
Psychologist, PhD

Current Research Field
Recovery in people with psychosis

Position
Postdoctoral Researcher

Email
Regina.Froeding@ahus.no

Profile on researchgate.net
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Regina-Froeding

Profile on Cristin.no
https://app.cristin.no/persons/show.jsf?id=957479

Henning Værøy
Academic Degree
Dr.med., specialization in psychiatry

Current Research Field
Biological psychiatry, psycho-immunology, etc.

Position
Senior Researcher

Email
Henning.vaeroy@ahus.no

Profile on researchgate.net
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Henning-Vaeroy

Profile on Cristin.no
https://app.cristin.no/persons/show.jsf?id=6016

Hanne Kristin Clausen
Academic Degree
Ph.D., Physician

Current Research Field
Treatment for individuals with psychotic disorders or other severe mental disorders. Treatment for individuals with substance abuse and mental disorders. Treatment and follow-up for women with mental disorders during pregnancy and postpartum and their families

Position
Postdoctoral Researcher

Email
Hanne.Kristin.Clausen@ahus.no

Profile on Cristin.no
https://app.cristin.no/persons/show.jsf?id=615

Kari Standal
Academic Degree
Clinical psychologist specialist in clinical adult psychology and clinical psychology with psychotherapy

Current Research Field
Medication-free treatment

Position
Clinical Psychologist Specialist

Email
Kari.standal@ahus.no

Profile on researchgate.net
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kari-Standal-2

Profile on Cristin.no
https://app.cristin.no/persons/show.jsf?id=878312

Ajmal Hussain
Academic Degree
Ph.D., Physician specializing in psychiatry

Position
Medical Adviser

Email
Ajmal.Hussain@ahus.no

Profile on cristin.no
https://app.cristin.no/persons/show.jsf?id=7868

Torleif Ruud
Academic Degree
Professor Emeritus, Dr.med. specializing in psychiatry

Position
Senior Researcher

Email
Torleif.ruud@medisin.uio.no

Profile on researchgate.net
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Torleif-Ruud

Profile on uio.no
https://www.med.uio.no/klinmed/personer/vit/torleifr/index.html

Profile on Cristin.no
https://app.cristin.no/persons/show.jsf?id=1304

Bodil Skiaker
Position
Research Coordinator

Email
bodil.skiaker@ahus.no

Profile on Cristin.no
https://app.cristin.no/persons/show.jsf?id=423810

Tiril Østefjells
Position Clinical Psychologist Specialist
Academic Degree PhD
Current Research Field Psychosis
Email: Tiril.Ostefjells@ahus.no

John Bjarne Abel Engh
Dr.med. specializing in psychiatry
Academic Degree PhD
Current Research Field Psychosis
Email: uxjogh@siv.no

  • Norsmi – Norwegian Research in Mental Illness
  • University Hospital of North Norway
  • Fonna Hospital Trust
  • Stavanger University Hospital
  • Hospital of Southern Norway
  • Innlandet Hospital Trust
  • HØKH Health Services Research Unit
  • Avdeling for allmennmedisin, Universitetet i Oslo
  • Oslo Met
  • University of Oslo
  • University of South-Eastern Norway
  • Akuttnettve
  • Mental helse
  • Nasjonal kompetansetjeneste for samtidig rusmisbruk og psykisk lidelse (NKROP)
  • University College London, UK
  • Westat Research Center, USA
  • McMaster University, Canada
  • Dalhousie University, Canada
  • S. Fetissov's Lab, University of Rouen
  • Kings College London, UK

Kristin Sverdvik Heiervang - kihi@ahus.no

Last updated 2/20/2024