Our latest publications

• Getz, Vilde; Pleym, Karin; Dammen, Toril; Husebye, Einar; Sverre, Elise Christine Bjørkholen & Peersen, Kari [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2026). Patient and healthcare system factors associated with participation in municipal smoking cessation programs after hospitalization for atherosclerotic vascular disease in Norway: A prespecified analysis of two randomized controlled trials. Tobacco Prevention & Cessation. 12(61), p. 1–13. doi: 10.18332/tpc/236282. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Introduction: Persistent smoking after hospitalization for an atherosclerotic vascular event remains common, and only a small proportion attend cardiac rehabilitation or community-based lifestyle support, including smoking cessation programs. This study aimed to identify patient and healthcare...

• Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin; Moum, Torbjørn; Tyssen, Reidar & Breivik, Jarle (2026). Medical students admitted solely by grade point average show a narrow but highly prosocial personality profile. BMC Medical Education. 26. doi: 10.1186/s12909-026-09929-7. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background The distribution of students’ personality traits may indicate whether an admission system selects candidates suited to medical practice. While many countries use multi-step selection procedures, Norwegian medical schools admit students based solely on upper-secondary school grade point averages (GPA). We primarily aimed to characterise the personality profiles of medical students at the University of Oslo, and then compare them with previous studies of the Norwegian general population and medical students from systems in countries using alternative admission models. Methods We conducted an observational study of newly admitted medical students, 2022–2026 (mean age = 22.1 years, SD = 4.2; 68% female). Personality was assessed using the Big Five Inventory (BFI; five cohorts, n = 535, response rate (RR) = 89%) and the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI; six cohorts, n = 632, RR = 95%). BFI scores were compared with available historical data: general Norwegian workers, German final-year, and French first‑ and third‑year medical students using one‑sample t‑tests. MBTI types were compared with previous studies on U.S. and South Korean medical students and the Norwegian general population using chi-squared tests. Results Norwegian medical students scored significantly higher than Norwegian workers on all BFI dimensions (p < 0.001). They also scored higher in Agreeableness than German final-year and French first- and third-year students (4.33 vs 4.17, 3.80 and 3.60, respectively) and lower in Neuroticism (2.50 vs. 2.85, 3.00 and 3.00; all p < 0.001). Norwegian students’ MBTI personality-type distribution differed significantly from the Norwegian general population and U.S. and South Korean medical students (p < 0.001). Most students were Judging (78%) and Extraverted (70%), with ENFJ the most frequent personality type among women (29%) and ENTJ among men (25%). Conclusions Medical students admitted through the Norwegian GPA-only admission system at UiO demonstrated high Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, with a marked overrepresentation of ENFJ women and ENTJ men. These findings indicate a consistently prosocial and structured, but relatively narrow, personality profile. While this profile includes interpersonal and organisational characteristics that may be relevant to clinical practice, the observed distribution also raises questions about limited diversity in personality type distribution and gender-related patterns in recruitment to medical education.

• Olsbø, Signe; Larsen, Marie Hamilton; Hermansen, Åsmund & Bjørnland, Kristin (2026). Health literacy profiles in parents of children with congenital colorectal disorders: A cluster analysis. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. ISSN 0022-3468. 61(12). doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2026.163439. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Aim: To identify and describe health literacy (HL) profiles and possible associations with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics among parents of children with congenital colorectal conditions. Methods: Parents (n = 269) of children with Hirschsprung disease (HD) or anorectal malformation (ARM) completed the Health Literacy Questionnaire-parent version (HLQ-p) and the General Self–Efficacy Scale. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Ward's hierarchical clustering was used to identify clusters across the nine HLQ-p domains. Ethical approval was obtained. Results: Four parental HL profiles were identified. Cluster 1 (n = 75, 28%) showed consistently low HL across all domains, with particular difficulties in information appraisal and social support. This cluster had the lowest self-efficacy, lower educational attainment, nearly half were non-native speakers, and half were not living with the child's other parent. Cluster 2 (n = 57, 21%) demonstrated moderate HL, but distinct challenges in information appraisal. Many had high education, cohabitated, and were native-speaking households. This group had the highest prevalence of child comorbidity. Cluster 3 (n = 109, 41%) exhibited generally high HL and strong engagement with healthcare providers, but struggled with information appraisal. Self-efficacy was high, and most parents lived with the child's other parent. Cluster 4 (n = 28, 10%) had the highest HL and self-efficacy, a high proportion of parents with high education and universal cohabitation. Conclusion: Nearly half of the parents exhibit low HL, including many with traditionally advantageous sociodemographic characteristics. Language diversity and child comorbidity amplified HL challenges, and difficulties in evaluating and applying health information were common across all parent groups.

• Ilic, Anica; Juvet, Lene Kristine; Cairns, Patrick; Thornton, Kristen Elizabeth Thompson & Lie, Hanne Cathrine (2026). Patient-Facing AI-Enabled Digital Health Technologies and Quality of Life in Cancer: Systematic Review and Exploratory Meta-Analysis. JMIR mhealth and uhealth. 14. doi: 10.2196/94793. Full text in Research Archive
• Breivik, Jarle & Lie, Hanne Cathrine (2026). Framing analysis as a pedagogical tool for broadening medical students’ understanding of cancer: a course evaluation. BMC Medical Education. 26(1). doi: 10.1186/s12909-026-09851-y. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Cancer is a complex phenomenon encompassing a range of cultural and biomedical dimensions. Traditional medical curricula often fail to reflect this complexity, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary approaches that help medical students develop a more integrated understanding of disease by connecting diverse knowledge, patient perspectives, and societal contexts. This study evaluates how framing analysis—a method from communication studies—can be used as a pedagogical tool to broaden medical students’ understanding and critical thinking about complex health issues, using cancer as a key example. Methods We conducted a course evaluation of a two-week elective titled “Cancer Communication” within the University of Oslo’s medical program, offered annually to approximately 20 third-year students. Working in teams, students explored research questions related to cancer communication through lectures, workshops, guided research, and excursions. They learned framing analysis by applying a published tool for examining public cancer discourse. Anonymous pre-course free associations and post-course reflections were analyzed thematically to identify changes in students’ understanding of cancer during the course. Students’ team presentations, orally evaluated as part of the final course examination, supported our assessment of how students applied framing analysis to cancer-related communication topics. Results Students’ initial responses reflected relatively simple and emotionally charged associations with cancer, often centered on fear, death, treatment burden, and familiar cancer stereotypes. Their post-course reflections suggested increased media literacy, critical thinking, and the ability to integrate multiple narratives about cancer. In their final presentations, students applied framing analysis to critically evaluate media portrayals and reflect on how different framings shape public and professional perceptions of disease. The post-course reflections further suggested greater empathy for cancer patients and an increased awareness of social and cultural influences on medical practice. Conclusions Integrating framing analysis into medical education appeared to broaden students’ understanding of cancer as a multidimensional phenomenon, supporting reflective and interdisciplinary thinking and encouraging them to move beyond traditional biomedical perspectives. These findings suggest that framing analysis and similar communication-based approaches may serve as useful pedagogical tools in health professions education to enhance critical reflection.

• Thornton, Kristen Elizabeth Thompson; Bosworth, Cassandra; Smith, Anne M.; Lopez, Matthew A.; Buxton, Claire & Oliver, Melissa [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2026). Evaluating the Cochlear Implant Competence of Caregivers, Educators, and Speech-Language Service Providers With the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Skills Review. American Journal of Audiology. ISSN 1059-0889. 35(3), p. 819–845. doi: 10.1044/2025_AJA-24-00255. Full text in Research Archive
• Pfabigan, Daniela Melitta; Frogner, Erik Rimestad; Asgari, Fatemeh & Sailer, Uta (2026). Appreciation of Social Experiences and Solitude in Everyday Life: The SOcial Experiences' daiLy Occurrence Scale (SOLO). Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. ISSN 0036-5564. doi: 10.1111/sjop.70146. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  While social interactions and actively chosen solitude both contribute to well‐being, existing measures focus solely on one dimension. We developed the SOcial experiences' daiLy Occurrence (SOLO) scale—a brief end‐of‐day diary measure capturing enjoyment of social interactions (including brief encounters with “weak ties”) and solitude experiences. Two scale development and validation studies were conducted: single‐day ( N  = 203) and 14‐day ( N  = 75) assessments. The final SOLO consists of 13 items forming two scales, the Social Interaction subscale and the Solitude subscale. Both scales demonstrated adequate psychometric properties and meaningful relationships with well‐being measures. The scales were independent, supporting the conceptualization of social enjoyment and solitude preference as distinct dimensions. The SOLO is therefore presented as two distinct scales. A composite score can be calculated if required, although subscale‐level analyses are recommended given the empirical independence of the two dimensions. The SOLO's brief format offers a practical compromise between ecological momentary assessment and retrospective measures, enabling investigation of the distinct roles of social engagement and solitude in everyday life.

• Granerud, Guro; Arntzen, Erik; Nærland, Terje; Malt, Eva Albertsen; Hatlestad-Hall, Christoffer & Jönsson, Erik Gunnar [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2026). Equivalence class formation, priming, and N400 in autism spectrum disorder. Learning and Motivation. ISSN 0023-9690. 95. doi: 10.1016/j.lmot.2026.102307. Full text in Research Archive
• Mäki-Marttunen, Verónica; Sailer, Uta; Kopal, Jakub; Hagen, Espen; Shadrin, Alexey & Andreassen, Ole [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2026). Large-Scale Neuroimaging and Genetic Analyses of the Human Thalamus in Loneliness. Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science. 6(6), p. 100798–100798. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2026.100798. Full text in Research Archive
• Caglar, Harun; Holmager, Therese; Kristensen, Anna Meta Dyrvig; Bakken, Arnhild; Rykind-Eriksen, Frida & Deeg, Peter Stefan [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2026). Risk-Score Guided Estimation of Absolute Benefit From Beta-blockers after Myocardial Infarction in Patients Without Heart Failure. European Heart Journal - Quality of Care and Clinical Outcomes. ISSN 2058-5225. doi: 10.1093/ehjqcco/qcag142. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Aims To assess whether a modified clinical risk-score can stratify baseline risk and estimate expected absolute benefit from beta-blocker therapy in post-MI (myocardial infarction) patients with LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction) ≥40%. Methods This substudy of the BETAMI-DANBLOCK trial included patients with a recent MI and LVEF ≥40% who were randomized to beta-blocker or no beta-blocker therapy. A modified Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Score for Secondary Prevention (TRS-2P) was constructed, and patients were categorized as low-, intermediate-, or high-risk. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality, new-MI, unplanned coronary revascularization, ischemic stroke, heart failure, or malignant ventricular arrhythmia. Treatment effects across TRS-2P strata were estimated using Cox proportional hazards and Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard models. Three-year absolute risk reduction (ARR) and number needed to treat (NNT) were calculated for each risk stratum. Results Among 5558 patients, 38.4% were classified as low-risk, 52.8% as intermediate-risk, and 8.8% as high-risk. Event rates increased stepwise with higher modified TRS-2P, with no evidence of heterogeneity in the relative treatment effects across risk-strata (hazard ratios: 0.88, 0.81 and 0.88, respectively). However, the score translated the modest relative effects into clinically distinct absolute benefits: Three-year ARR was 1.4% (NNT=72 [95% CI: 41 to 361]) in low-risk, 2.1% (NNT=47 [95% CI: 27 to 239]) in intermediate-risk, and 3.6% (NNT=28 [95% CI: 16 to 140]) in high-risk patients. Conclusions The modified TRS-2P stratified baseline risk and provided estimates of absolute beta-blocker benefit, supporting further evaluation of individualized, risk-guided treatment after MI in patients with LVEF ≥40%.

• Girelli, Alberto; Solheim, Andreas; Lian, Sofie Lysholm; Storås, Tryggve Holck; Nordengen, Kaja & Mardal, Kent-Andre (2026). Multiphasic transport in the human cranial dura: how meningeal lymphatic vessels drive waste clearance from brain cerebrospinal fluid. Fluids and Barriers of the CNS. doi: 10.1186/s12987-026-00861-y. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background The discovery of meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs) has reshaped our understanding of brain waste clearance, positioning them as a very important clearance route. However, quantifying the precise hydrodynamics and solute transport mechanisms within the human dura mater in vivo remains highly challenging due to the multiscale nature of cranial fluid dynamics and imaging resolution limits. Methods We integrated patient-specific intrathecal contrast-enhanced MRI (gMRI) data from a single healthy subject with a novel anatomical segmentation of the cranial dura mater. By employing a hierarchy of inverse mathematical and micro-mechanical models, we estimated previously inaccessible physiological transport parameters. To ensure parameter identifiability, we deliberately modeled a scenario where the meningeal lymphatic vessels act as the sole fluid efflux route, thereby establishing an upper limit for their clearance capacity. These baseline estimates subsequently informed a spatially distributed, double-porosity 3D computational model of the human dura to simulate the fluid dynamics of cranial clearance. Results Our analysis suggests that purely diffusive macroscopic models fail to replicate in vivo tracer distribution. Conversely, a dual-porosity advection-diffusion framework successfully captures the tissue kinetics. The transport within the mLV compartment is characterized by highly convective clearance (with ), with macroscopic fluid velocities and effective lymphatic diffusion coefficients yielding an upper-bound advective capacity theoretically sufficient to clear the total albumin content in the Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF). Conclusion Based on our findings on a single subject (Gonzo) solute clearance within the human cranial dura mater emerges as multiphasic, advection-dominated process. Rather than relying on passive Fickian diffusion, molecules appear to be actively and rapidly cleared through the meningeal lymphatic network via convective mechanisms. While our assumption of exclusively mLV-driven clearance provides a theoretical upper limit for their capacity, this hierarchical modeling approach successfully bridges clinical imaging and microscopic fluid dynamics, offering quantitative insights into the primary mechanical drivers of dural fluid clearance.

• Ilic, Anica; Imbach, Lea; Muehlebach, Nadja; Holmer, Pauline; Priboi, Cristina & Ansari, Marc [Show all 16 contributors for this article] (2026). “It has never been exactly what I was looking for”: information needs of grandparents after a grandchild's cancer diagnosis – results from a multicenter mixed-methods study (GROKids Project). Patient Education and Counseling. ISSN 0738-3991. 152, p. 1–9. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2026.109811. Full text in Research Archive
• Asgari, Fatemeh; Vitelli, Valeria & Sailer, Uta (2026). Functional Structural Equation Modeling with Latent Variables. Structural Equation Modeling. ISSN 1070-5511. p. 1–9. doi: 10.1080/10705511.2026.2702102. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Handling latent variables in Structural Equation Models (SEMs) where both the latent variables and their corresponding indicators are random curves presents significant challenges, especially with sparse data. We develop a novel family of Functional Structural Equation Models (FSEMs) incorporating latent variables modeled as Gaussian Processes (GPs). The model adapts to cases when the random curves’ realizations are observed over a sparse subset of the domain. To extract smooth estimates for the functional parameters, we employ a penalized likelihood approach and evaluate the performance of the proposed model using simulation studies and a real data example, suggesting our model performs well. Supplementary materials are available online.

• Johansen, Sara Hassing; Edvardsen, Elisabeth; Raastad, Truls; Ruud, Ellen; Deng, Wei Hai & Bratteteig, Mari [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2026). Associations Between Physical Fitness and Fatigue in Adolescent Childhood Cancer Survivors: The PACCS Study. Pediatric Blood & Cancer. ISSN 1545-5009. doi: 10.1002/1545-5017.70478. Full text in Research Archive
• Djenouri, Youcef; Belbachir, Nabil; Belhadi, Asma & Srivastava, Gautam (2026). ContextDiff: Context-aware controllable generation with text-to-image diffusion models. Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems: Applications in Engineering and Technology. ISSN 1064-1246. p. 1–15. doi: 10.1177/18758967261469967. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Recent advancements in image generation have explored in-context learning by presenting a query image alongside context examples and text prompts. Despite these efforts, the generated images often exhibit diminished quality and fidelity when text prompts are omitted, highlighting a significant limitation in the models’ ability to fully exploit visual context. To address this, we introduce Context-Aware Controllable Generation (ContextDiff), a pioneering task designed to generate semantically precise and contextually rich images within specified categories. Our approach establishes a context space and develops a mapping network that aligns this space with the powerful Contrastive Language-Image Pre-training (CLIP) framework, thereby providing a concrete representation of abstract context. To ensure semantic diversity and contextual fidelity, we propose three novel loss functions. Extensive experiments and user studies demonstrate that our model significantly outperforms existing models, resulting in marked improvements in image quality and fidelity.

• Madssen, Erik; Sverre, Elise Christine Bjørkholen; Nyen, Johanne E; Holmager, Therese L F; Kristensen, Anna M D & Bakken, Arnhild [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2026). Beta-blocker therapy and physical activity after myocardial infarction: a preplanned sub-study of the BETAMI trial. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology (EJPC). ISSN 2047-4873. doi: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwag412. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Aims To investigate the effect of long-term beta-blocker therapy on physical activity (PA) level after myocardial infarction (MI) in patients without heart failure. Method The BETAMI trial, randomised patients hospitalised with a MI without heart failure (LVEF ≥40%) to beta-blocker or no beta-blocker. In this pre-planned sub-study PA level was assessed by guideline-recommended PA level (≥30 minutes moderate activity ≥5 days/week) or not and self-reported hours/week with light to moderate and vigorous PA. Between-group differences in PA from baseline before randomisation to 18-months were estimated by linear mixed models. Exploratory analysis assessed treatment effects on a composite of all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events using Cox proportional hazards model. Results Of the 2867 randomised patients, 2185 (76%) responded to the PA questions and were included in this analysis. Mean age was 62.5 (SD 10.1) years, 20.6% were women. No differences in guideline-recommended PA level or mean hours of light to moderate and vigorous PA were reported between the beta-blocker and non-beta-blocker group at baseline or during 18-months follow-up. At 12-month follow-up, 37.0% in the beta-blocker group and 36.7% in the no beta-blocker group reported guideline-recommended PA level (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.69-1.37). Exploratory, hypothesis-generating analyses did not demonstrate a statistically significant interaction (p for interaction = 0.06) between treatment assignment and baseline PA level for recurrent clinical events. Conclusions Beta-blocker therapy did not result in a change in PA level in post-MI patients without heart failure during the 18 months follow-up.

• Fadum, Elin Anita; Bååthe, Fredrik; Bringedal, Berit; Rø, Karin & Hem, Erlend (2026). Doctors’ job shifts between non-profit and for-profit healthcare organisations: evidence from a national panel of doctors. BMC Research Notes. 19(1). doi: 10.1186/s13104-026-07844-0. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objective Concerns have been raised about doctors shifting jobs from non-profit to for-profit healthcare, leaving non-profit organisations understaffed. This study explores the extent and underlying reasons for such job transitions. A 2024 national survey of Norwegian doctors (n = 1973; 78% response) examined job shifts from non-profit to for-profit healthcare over the past 2 years. Results Fifty-one doctors (2.6%) had shifted from non-profit to for-profit healthcare in the past 2 years; 19 (37%) were still working in for-profit healthcare. A third of the doctors working in non-profit healthcare had considered switching to for-profit work (450/1517). This group was younger, less satisfied with their jobs, and reported higher sickness absence. Working hours were most often cited as a very important reason for shifting jobs.

• Ooijen, A. van; Dalhuisen, S. R.; Daams, J.; Smets, E. M.A. & Delor, Julia Menichetti (2026). Medical information tailoring in somatic care consultations: A scoping review. Patient Education and Counseling. ISSN 0738-3991. 149. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2026.109607. Full text in Research Archive
• Vatne, Torun Marie; Pedersen, Elise Olsen & Lie, Hanne Cathrine (2026). Reactions, Adaptation, and Support Needs of Siblings of Children with a Life-Limiting Disease: The Parents’ Experiences. Children. 13(5). doi: 10.3390/children13050620. Full text in Research Archive
• Børdahl, Per E & Hem, Erlend (2026). Farskapsbestemmelse før DNA – betydningen av svangerskapsvarighet. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 7. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.25.0458. Full text in Research Archive
• Frigaard, Christine; Ofstad, Eirik Hugaas; Delor, Julia Menichetti; Schirmer, Henrik; Bjørnstad, Herman & Simonsen, Tone Breines [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2026). Optimised heart failure medication in hospital-to-home transitions: An adherence burden for patients? Patient Education and Counseling. ISSN 0738-3991. 149. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2026.109655. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objectives When patients are hospitalised for heart failure (HF), doctors review and optimise their pharmacotherapy at subsequent care transitions. Studies show that patients, many of whom are old and frail, have adherence rates of only 40%-60%. Few communication studies have examined the burden of optimisation on patients as their regimens evolve. Focusing on prescription changes over multiple care transitions, we aimed to: (1) identify how many changes patients received, (2) characterise the support provided in discharge letters, and (3) assess patients’ implementation of changes at home. Methods We conducted an exploratory, observational cohort study with prospective longitudinal data collection. We recruited 23 older HF patients in Norway, collecting observational data (medical records, discharge letters, interviews, photographs) from their hospital visits (admission, discharge), general practitioner visit, and their homes. We inductively developed a systematic analytical procedure to identify prescription changes and to assess the quality of doctors’ written information about patients’ medication management at home. Results Doctors made a median of six prescription changes per patient (range 2–19) over a median timespan of 25 days, usually leading to more medications. Of the discharge letters patients received, 26% provided clear instructions about all changes and explanations of the benefit. While all patients reported adherence, home visits revealed 17% had discrepancies indicating non-adherence, and 61% dispensed medications from original pharmacy packaging with outdated dosing instructions. Conclusions To adhere to their optimised pharmacotherapy, HF patients needed to implement many incremental changes. Doctors' discharge letters were often unclear or lacked information about the changes. Practice implications To enhance patients’ ability to adhere to treatment, clinicians may consider: (i) improving the quality of discharge letters, including clarifying medication labels (ii) providing updated instructions for old medication packages, (iii) normalising and providing safety-net support for non-adherence to HF regimens. Further research is needed to test these actions.

• Holtrop, Joris; Gynnild, Mari Nordbø; Deo, Salil V; Lim, Carl-Emil; Logothetis, Stelios Boulitsakis & Läll, Kristi [Show all 37 contributors for this article] (2026). Predicting lifetime cardiovascular risk and benefits of preventive treatment in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: the SMART-REACH2 model. European Heart Journal. ISSN 0195-668X. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehag400. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Background and Aims The 2021 ESC guidelines on cardiovascular (CV) disease prevention recommend the SMART-REACH lifetime risk model to guide treatment decisions in patients with established atherosclerotic CV disease. The aim was to develop the SMART-REACH2 model for estimating lifetime risk of recurrent CV events and treatment benefits in patients with established atherosclerotic CV disease, with systematic recalibration to the four European and other global risk regions. Methods SMART-REACH2 was derived in 8708 individuals aged 40–90 years with coronary, cerebrovascular, peripheral artery disease and/or abdominal aortic aneurysm from the UCC-SMART cohort. Sex-stratified, cause-specific Cox models for recurrent CV events and non-CV death were fitted using age as timescale and routinely available predictors. Recurrent CV events were defined as a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or CV death. Recalibration was based on representative cohorts per risk region. External validation was performed in 2 085 780 patients from 54 countries; model performance was assessed by calibration plots and Harrell's C-statistic. Results In the derivation cohort, 2057 recurrent CV events occurred over a median follow-up of 8.5 years (25th–75th: 4.3–13.0). In external validation, 307 706 events occurred. The pooled C-statistic was 0.68 (95% confidence interval 0.66–0.69) and ranged from 0.66 (0.64–0.69) for European low-risk region up to 0.72 (0.66–0.78) for Latin America, with adequate calibration across risk regions. Performance was consistent across sexes and CV disease subtypes. Using SMART-REACH2, estimated potential gains in CV disease-free life expectancy for a 50-year-old example patient receiving intensified preventive treatment (15 mmHg systolic blood pressure and 1.0 mmol/L low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction) ranged from 2 years in the low-risk region to 4.4 years in the very-high-risk region. Conclusions The updated SMART-REACH2 model accounts for geographical and sex-specific variations and allows estimation of short-term and lifetime risk of recurrent CV events and treatment benefits, facilitating shared decision-making as recommended by guidelines.

• Nagraj, Sumanth Kumbargere; Hafver, Tandekile Lubelwana; Reinthaler, Valerie; Velde, Stijn Van de; Zaror, Carlos & Shen, Yan Jiao [Show all 16 contributors for this article] (2026). Understanding what works in disseminating clinical practice guidelines: A qualitative evidence synthesis. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. ISSN 0895-4356. 196. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2026.112313. Full text in Research Archive
• Eachempati, Prashanti; Guyatt, Gordon; Vandvik, Per Olav; Guerin, Philippe J.; Dahal, Prabin & Barnes, Karen I. [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2026). SPICE-GRADE: simultaneous processing of indirect causal evidence in complex pathways using GRADE — an exploratory case study. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. ISSN 0895-4356. 194. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2026.112219. Full text in Research Archive
• Foroutan, Farid; Weiss, Jessica; Mayer, Martin; Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin; Agoritsas, Thomas & Vandvik, Per Olav [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2026). Discriminating clinical prediction models: how outcome incidence and decision thresholds shape clinical utility and apt AUROC values. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. ISSN 0895-4356. 195. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2026.112293. Full text in Research Archive
• Ng, Hui Xin; Abé, Christoph; Alda, Martin; Alonso-Lana, Silvia; Anmella, Gerard & Bauer, Jochen [Show all 97 contributors for this article] (2026). Brain aging in bipolar disorder using a neuroimaging and machine learning-derived metric: Findings from the ENIGMA BD Working Group. Journal of Affective Disorders. ISSN 0165-0327. 403. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.121234. Full text in Research Archive
• Assis, Denis Reis de; Pentz, Atle Bråthen; Osete, Jordi Requena; Ievglevskyi, Oleksandr; Vandenberghe, Matthieu & Akkouh, Ibrahim Ahmed [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2026). Investigating neural impairments in psychotic disorders using electroencephalography and cortical spheroids. Translational Psychiatry. 16(1). doi: 10.1038/s41398-026-03863-4. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Synaptic dysfunction is a candidate mechanism in psychotic disorders, yet the precise underlying substrates remain elusive. We investigated how combining in vivo electroencephalography (EEG) and in vitro human cortical spheroid (hCS)-based methods can further our understanding of psychosis pathophysiology during fetal stages of neurodevelopment. Ten individuals with schizophrenia (SZ) or bipolar disorder (BD; 5 males and 5 females) and five controls (CTRL; 3 males and 2 females) underwent EEG assessments, including long-term potentiation (LTP)-like cortical plasticity and mismatch negativity (MMN). hCS were generated from induced pluripotent stem cells of all participants, and immunohistochemistry, Seahorse bioenergetics and patch-clamp recordings were performed. EEG-based LTP-like plasticity was reduced in individuals with SZ and BD. Basal respiration was decreased in BD hCS and VGLUT1 levels were reduced in both SZ and BD hCS. There was a positive association between EEG-based LTP-like plasticity and hCS basal respiration which survived correction. Our data provide further support for roles of mitochondrial and glutamatergic impairments in the synaptic dysfunction of psychosis and demonstrate the potential of combining EEG- and hCS-based methods for early development mechanistic studies of brain disorders.

• Meshkovska, Biljana; Zolfaghari, Mahshid; Brandvik, Caroline Løvik; Klepp, Knut-Inge; Kopainsky, Birgit & Lie, Hanne Cathrine [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2026). Adoption of the Norwegian School Fruit Program: A Qualitative Study on Barriers and Facilitators. Global Implementation Research and Applications. doi: 10.1007/s43477-026-00238-1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The Norwegian School Fruit Program is financed by parents or local municipalities. The aim of this study was to explore contextual barriers and facilitators that influence the adoption of the program by schools using the Context and Implementation of Complex Interventions (CICI) framework. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 21 participants (mainly principals) from 20 lower secondary schools (classes 8–10). We analyzed the data using a deductive qualitative approach based on the CICI framework. We compared findings across schools offering the program (1) with no-parental-payment, (2) by parental subscription, and schools that (3) discontinued or (4) never offered the program. Economic costs were perceived as the main barrier to adoption across all schools. Although most schools recognized the need for such a program, some preferred to make their own arrangements. Except for schools offering the parental subscription option, many schools perceived asking parents to pay for the program as unfair, not in line with Norwegian values, and unlikely to allow the program to reach those who need it the most. Further barriers were the lack of legislation making the program obligatory and potential political changes causing uncertainty regarding the programme’s continuation from one year to the next. Social aspects of eating together were recognized as a facilitator. Food provision programs should be compatible with school priorities such as academic performance and mental health. Context and setting are dynamic and should be continuously evaluated to ensure they are in line with evolving school priorities and needs.

• Kristensen, Anna Meta Dyrvig; Jortveit, Jarle; Holmager, Therese; Atar, Dan; Olsen, Michael Hecht & Bakken, Arnhild [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2026). Outcomes in the BETAMI-DANBLOCK trial compared with a Norwegian nationwide myocardial infarction population. European Heart Journal. ISSN 0195-668X. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehag348. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Background and Aims In patients with myocardial infarction (MI), no heart failure, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 40%, the combined BETAMI-DANBLOCK trial showed that beta-blockers reduced the risk of all-cause mortality or major adverse cardiovascular events. This study evaluated the representativeness of the trial. Methods Participants in BETAMI (n = 2867) and DANBLOCK (n = 2707) were compared with a cohort of revascularized MI patients with LVEF ≥40%, and no heart failure from the Norwegian Myocardial Infarction Registry (the NORMI cohort)(n = 20 804). Baseline characteristics were evaluated, and absolute risks of all-cause mortality and/or MI were estimated. A transportability analysis was conducted by weighting the BETAMI-DANBLOCK population according to the NORMI cohort. Results Median age was 66 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 57–74) in the NORMI cohort and 63 years (IQR: 55–70) in BETAMI and DANBLOCK. Patients in the NORMI cohort had a higher prevalence of diabetes, previous coronary artery disease, and LVEF 40–49%, compared with trial participants. At 3-year follow-up, the absolute risk of all-cause mortality or MI was 12.0% in the NORMI cohort, 7.7% in BETAMI, and 7.8% in DANBLOCK. Corresponding risks of MI were 6.3%, 5.6%, and 4.3%, respectively. The treatment effects of beta-blockers were similar when the trial population was weighted according to the characteristics of the NORMI cohort. Conclusions Compared with the NORMI cohort, participants in BETAMI and DANBLOCK were younger, had a lower proportion of certain comorbidities, and experienced a lower risk of all-cause mortality and MI. Despite these differences, the effect of beta-blockers remained consistent when the trial population was weighted according to the NORMI cohort.

• McWilliams, Esther C.; Milanovic, Snezana M.; Elvsåshagen, Torbjørn; Lew, Robert; Hopkins, Seth C. & Andrews, Cynthia [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2026). A brief visual evoked potential (VEP) modulation assessment of experience-dependent plasticity recorded via wireless dry-EEG headset in Phase 1 clinical units. Scientific Reports. 16. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-29950-y. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Experience-dependent modulation of the visual evoked potential (VEP) can be used as a non-invasive human correlate of invasive measurements of long-term potentiation (LTP)-type neuroplasticity in animal research. However, conventional electroencephalogram (EEG) recording is high burden and time consuming, hindering adoption. Further, reliability of participant-level VEP modulation measures, even in highly controlled conditions, has been disappointing. To increase the practicality and utility of the assessment we trialled a short (11-min) paradigm with wireless dry-EEG headset and applied multiscale frequency-domain analyses to extract more precise measures of neuroplasticity. This approach was tested in healthy participants in laboratory (n = 17) and Phase 1 clinical studies (n = 33). Typical session duration was < 30 min. Test–retest reliability of VEP waveforms were compared to literature on full-length paradigms with wet-EEG hardware. Group-level time-domain event-related potential (ERP) analyses showed post-modulation P1 amplitude increase in both groups (Cohen’s d = 0.77, 0.78, respectively) and N1b amplitude decrease in clinical study group (Cohen’s d = − 0.52). Timeseries-based test–retest reliability of the VEP modulation effect was low but was substantially improved to moderate levels (some intraclass correlation ≥ 0.5) with a wavelet-based analysis. This suggests that VEP modulation assessments could be employed across multiple sites to objectively measure experience-dependent plasticity in real-world clinical trials of central nervous system therapies.

• Willumsen, Lise Haldorsen; Smeland, Knut Halvor Bjøro; Eikeland, Siri Asheim; Fosså, Alexander; Bersvendsen, Hanne Skjerven & Fagerli, Unn Merete [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2026). Self-reported late effects and chronic fatigue, information needs and follow-up in long-term survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma—a cross-sectional study. Supportive Care in Cancer. ISSN 0941-4355. 34(5). doi: 10.1007/s00520-026-10625-x. Full text in Research Archive
• Braanaas, Karoline Svensen; Dammen, Toril; Fagerland, Morten; Husebye, Einar; Leinaas, Amund & Schirmer, Henrik [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2026). Individually tailored monitoring at home after hospitalization for HEART failure (IT-HEART): design and baseline characteristics of a randomized clinical trial. Heart Failure Reviews. ISSN 1382-4147. 31(1). doi: 10.1007/s10741-026-10635-1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Telemonitoring has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional heart failure (HF) management, but randomized trials show conflicting results, and data from high-risk populations with frailty, is scarce. The Individually Tailored monitoring at home after HEART failure (IT-HEART) trial evaluates whether a non-invasive multi-component telemonitoring program improves outcomes in HF patients after HF-hospitalization. The aim of this study is to describe flow of patients and baseline characteristics of the IT-HEART trial population. This multicenter, open-label, blinded-endpoint trial randomized HF patients to either written information and a standardized self-treatment plan (Control) or HF education, a personalized self-treatment plan, and three months of home telemonitoring (Intervention). The primary endpoint is the total number of HF hospitalizations or cardiovascular death. Of 1016 consecutively screened patients, 200 (19.7%) were randomized. At baseline, median age was 78 (IQR 70–83) years, and 29.5% were women. Participants were multimorbid (median 6 diagnoses) with a median Clinical Frailty Scale score 4 (IQR 4–5). Median score of the European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale was 53 (IQR 35–67), and 75.5% had inadequate self-care. Self-rated knowledge on HF management was 3 (IQR 0–7) on a 0–10 Likert scale. Only 35.5% (n = 71) weighed themselves weekly whereas 1% (n = 2) reported having a self-care plan. In conclusion, patients enrolled after a recurrent HF hospitalization were multimorbid and frail, and scored low on self‑care and health literacy. The IT-HEART intervention is targeted to these factors and has the potential to improve clinical and patient‑reported outcomes, and costs.

• Eissa, Ahmed; Fredrik Kismul, Jan; Pentz, Atle Bråthen; Elvsåshagen, Torbjørn; Metzner, Christoph & Akkouh, Ibrahim Ahmed [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2026). Computational Modelling of Novelty Detection in the Mismatch Negativity Protocols and Its Impairments in Schizophrenia. European Journal of Neuroscience. ISSN 0953-816X. 63(6). doi: 10.1111/ejn.70453. Full text in Research Archive
• Delor, Julia Menichetti; Gerwing, Jennifer; Henry, Stephen G. & Pieterse, Arwen Helena (2026). Observing, selecting, and building with bridging questions: An exploratory microanalysis of clinical interactional curiosity. Patient Education and Counseling. ISSN 0738-3991. 149. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2026.109591. Full text in Research Archive
• Vandvik, Per Olav; Agarwal, Arnav; Rylance, Jamie; Agoritsas, Thomas; Guyatt, Gordon & Leo, Yee Sin [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2026). Summary of WHO clinical practice guidelines for influenza. The BMJ. 392, p. e087397–e087397. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2025-087397. Full text in Research Archive
• Zeng, Linan; Li, Ranyi; Li, Shelly Anne; Clarissa, Sherinne; Agoritsas, Thomas & Chen, Jingjing [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2026). Development of an educational video to support guideline panels in incorporating patient values and preferences into recommendation-making: qualitative one-on-one interviews and brainstorming meetings. BMJ Open. 16(2). doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101468. Full text in Research Archive
• Getz, Vilde; Pleym, Karin; Dammen, Toril; Husebye, Einar; Sverre, Elise Christine Bjørkholen & Papageorgiou, Constantinos [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2026). Clinical and psychosocial factors predicting persistent smoking in hospitalized patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease: A prespecified analysis of two randomized controlled trials. Tobacco Prevention & Cessation. 12. doi: 10.18332/tpc/217328. Full text in Research Archive
• Nyen, Johanne E; Kristensen, Anna Meta D; Dammen, Toril; Zwisler, Ann-Dorthe; Olsen, Michael Hecht & Maeng, Michael [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2026). Beta-blockers, depression, and anxiety after myocardial infarction: the BETAMI-DANBLOCK trial. European Heart Journal. ISSN 0195-668X. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehag200. Full text in Research Archive
• Holmager, Therese Lucia Friis; Kristensen, Anna Meta Dyrvig; Fagerland, Morten; Atar, Dan; Olsen, Michael Hecht & Bakken, Arnhild [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2026). Validating National Registry Data for Randomised Trials: Comparison of registry-derived cardiovascular events with and without adjudication in the BETAMI-DANBLOCK trial. European Heart Journal - Quality of Care and Clinical Outcomes. ISSN 2058-5225. doi: 10.1093/ehjqcco/qcag055. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Background Registry-based randomised clinical trials are increasingly applied in clinical research, providing advantages in feasibility and data capture. However, registry-based data may introduce bias through misclassification or missing information. Methods In the BETAMI-DANBLOCK trial, 5,574 patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and no heart failure were randomised to beta-blocker or no beta-blocker therapy. The primary endpoint events (all-cause mortality, MI, ischemic stroke, heart failure, unplanned coronary revascularisation, and malignant ventricular arrhythmias) were identified from the Danish/Norwegian national patient registries, self-reported questionnaires, and medical records. All registry-identified events, except all-cause mortality, underwent blinded adjudication. We compared non-adjudicated and adjudicated events by calculating incidence rates and hazard ratios (HRs) for beta-blocker therapy versus controls. Results National registries captured 99.7% of primary endpoint events registered by self-report and medical records. Of the primary endpoint events identified through the registries, 75% were confirmed by adjudication (incidence rate 6.23 versus 4.43/100 person-years). The confirmation rate was lower during the first six months and varied by event type (from 92% for ischemic stroke to 45% for unplanned coronary revascularisations and heart failure). Estimated treatment effects were consistent for the primary endpoint with non-adjudicated and adjudicated events (HR 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.78-0.98 and HR 0.85, 95% CI: 0.75-0.98, respectively), with no apparent differences across event types except for heart failure and revascularisation. Conclusion Registry data provided effect estimates of beta-blockers comparable to adjudicated data. However, adjudication substantially reduced the number of cardiovascular endpoint events and event-specific misclassification appeared, particularly during the first months after the index-event.

• Getz, Vilde; Pleym, Karin; Dammen, Toril; Husebye, Einar; Sverre, Elise Christine Bjørkholen & Papageorgiou, Constantinos [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2026). Clinical and psychosocial factors predicting persistent smoking in hospitalized patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease: A prespecified analysis of two randomized controlled trials. Tobacco Prevention & Cessation. 12(15). doi: https:/www.tobaccopreventioncessation.com/Clinical-and-psychosocial-factors-predicting-persistent-nsmoking-in-hospitalized,217328,0,2.html. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  ABSTRACT Introduction: Smoking remains prevalent after hospitalization for atherosclerotic vascular disease, even with cessation programs. Understanding the clinical and psychosocial factors influencing long-term abstinence is essential for identifying patients who may benefit from tailored interventions. This study aimed to identify clinical and psychosocial factors associated with sustained smoking cessation in patients with atherosclerotic disease who were admitted to hospital for an elective or unplanned vascular event and enrolled in a cessation intervention study. Methods: This is a prespecified analysis of two randomized intervention trials that recruited participants from three secondary care hospitals in Norway between 2021 and 2023. Patients who smoked at least one cigarette daily before admission were randomized to: 1) motivational counselling and proactive referral to municipal cessation services (intervention); or 2) brief advice and contact information (control). Data were collected from medical records, a questionnaire, and telephone interviews. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the prespecified factors associated with smoking status at 12 months. Results: In the total study population (n=262), 34% (n=88) reported 12-month sustained smoking abstinence. Anxiety diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio, AOR=4.2), shorter sleep duration per hour (AOR=1.3), living alone (AOR=2.2), somatic comorbidity per point on the Charlson score (AOR=1.5), and being in the precontemplation stage (AOR=2.9) were associated with persistent smoking. Increasing motivation per point on a 0–10 Likert scale (AOR=0.7), being in the preparation stage (AOR=0.4), and myocardial infarction or stroke as the index diagnosis (AOR=0.5) were associated with smoking abstinence. Results were generally consistent across intervention allocation groups. Conclusions: Motivation and readiness for smoking cessation were key predictors of abstinence. Living alone, anxiety disorders, and shorter sleep duration were associated with persistent smoking. These factors may help identify subgroups who could benefit from more targeted support.

• Jortveit, Jarle; Boskovic, Miroslav; Haraldsen, Marius Blørstad; Berge, Trygve; Grenne, Bjørnar L & Munkhaugen, John [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2026). Cardiac-related symptoms in individuals ≥65 years without diagnosed cardiac disease: insights from the NORSCREEN-trial. European Heart Journal Open (EHJ Open). doi: 10.1093/ehjopen/oeag032. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Aims Population-based data on cardiac-related symptoms in individuals without diagnosed cardiac disease remain limited, despite important implications for early detection and management. We aimed to assess the prevalence of self-reported symptoms and the association with quality of life (QoL) among adults ≥65 years with ≥1 additional stroke risk factor, but without diagnosed cardiac disease. Methods Cross-sectional study of the NORSCREEN trial population at baseline. NORSCREEN is an ongoing, nationwide, randomised atrial fibrillation screening study in adults aged ≥65 years at increased risk of stroke (CHA2DS2-VA ≥2). All participants completed a baseline questionnaire capturing clinical information, symptoms, and QoL. Results Of 50,549 participants enrolled from 2023 to 2025, 39,281 (78%) reported no diagnosed cardiac disease. Among those, 17,069 (43%) reported cardiac-related symptoms compared to 7,551 (67%) of 11,268 individuals with known cardiac disease. Most common symptoms were fatigue, exertional dyspnoea and tachycardia. Female sex (adjusted odds ratio 1.66, [95% CI 1.58–1.75], physical inactivity (1.43 [1.32–1.55]), current smoking (1.24 [1.12–1.37]), age &lt;75 years (1.14 [1.08-1.20]), living alone (1.13 [1.07–1.20]), and comorbidities including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (6.51 [5.63-7.54]) and anxiety (3.99 [3.64-4.38]) were associated with cardiac-related symptoms. Symptomatic individuals reported significantly lower RAND-36 QoL scores across all domains compared to those without symptoms. Conclusion In this cohort of individuals ≥65 years at increased risk of stroke, but without diagnosed cardiac disease, nearly half reported cardiac-related symptoms, which were associated with substantially reduced QoL. These findings suggest there might be unmet needs in identifying and managing cardiovascular disease.

• Myren, Sverre; Jungilligens, Johannes; Diez, Ibai; Bøen, Erlend; Elvsåshagen, Torbjørn & Forstmann, Birte [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2026). Ultra-high field brain MRI for functional neurological disorder: opportunities and challenges. NeuroImage: Clinical. 50. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2026.103972. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a common condition with debilitating neurological symptoms emerging from brain network alterations; yet, neuroimaging findings are often of unclear neurobiological significance. Contemporary mechanistic accounts indicate disturbances in hierarchical brain processing involving arousal, interoception, salience attribution, affective-motor integration, and self-agency. The findings of abnormal brain function with only partially consistent neuroimaging abnormalities imply that relevant pathology may occur below the resolution or contrast capabilities of conventional clinical MRI. Ultra-high field MRI (UHF, 7T and above) provides substantially improved spatial resolution, contrast sensitivity, and physiological specificity needed to interrogate microcircuit-, mesoscale-, and neurochemical-level mechanisms. We review how UHF-enhanced structural, diffusion, functional, and spectroscopic techniques can address long-standing mechanistic questions in FND. Selected targets that operate at different spatial scales are used to illustrate how UHF MRI can resolve features that are either inaccessible or not fully reliable at standard magnetic field strengths (1.5–3T). To synthesize these advances, we propose a biophysical multimodal MRI framework that integrates quantitative MRI, diffusion MRI, functional MRI, and MR spectroscopy to derive biologically interpretable markers spanning microstructure, white matter architecture, circuit dynamics, and neurometabolic domains. This approach aligns with contemporary computational and neurobiological models of FND and offers a scalable roadmap for future research. Together, UHF MRI and biophysically grounded multimodal imaging can enable a new generation of mechanistic studies in FND, with potential implications for diagnosis, subtype stratification, and biomarker development.

• Jacobsen, Hilde K.; Tandberg, Bente S.; Kynø, Nina M & Sailer, Uta (2026). Exploring the association between parent touch attitudes and experiences with duration of skin-to-skin contact and holding in preterm infants. Early Human Development. ISSN 0378-3782. 214. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106476. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) provides extensive benefits for preterm infants and is highly recommended. However, parental SSC duration in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) varies considerably, with contributing factors poorly understood. Parents' perspectives on, and prior experiences with touch may influence SSC duration. Aims To investigate how parental attitudes toward and experiences with touch relate to SSC and holding durations, and to explore how these durations vary by relationship (mother/father), infant gestational age (GA) and parents' level of education. Study design Observational Study. Subjects Parents (n = 123) of preterm infants (n = 69), GA 270–366, admitted to a Norwegian family-centered care NICU providing 24/7 parental presence, participated. Outcome measures Daily parental SSC and holding durations (one week), video-evaluation of occurrence of slow, gentle and faster stroking, and Touch Experiences and Attitudes Questionnaire. Results Mothers provided significantly more SSC (p = .024) and holding (p = .005) than fathers. Parents provided significantly more SSC for infants at GA 27–30 (p = .029) and GA 31–33 (p = .036) than for GA 34–36, while significantly more holding for GA 31–33 (p = .022) and GA 34–36 (p = .001) than GA 27–30. No relation between parents' touch attitudes and experiences, affective touch awareness, or education, and SSC and holding duration was observed. Conclusion Maternal status and GA predicted SSC and holding duration yet explained the variance only partially. Parents' touch attitudes and experiences showed no association. This suggests that contextual, clinical or systemic factors may predominantly determine SSC and holding provision.

• Wiik, Anne Margrethe Aalborg; Hem, Erlend & Lie, Anne Kveim (2025). Da penicillin kom til Norge. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 145(15). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.25.0360. Full text in Research Archive
• Wams, Jikke; Dalen, Elvira C. van; Hartogh, Jaap G. den; Otth, Maria; Costa, Tiago & Gorter, Jan Willem [Show all 34 contributors for this article] (2025). Health-care transitions for young people living beyond childhood and adolescent cancer: recommendations from the EU–CAYAS–NET consortium. The Lancet Oncology. ISSN 1470-2045. 26(10), p. e525–e535. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(25)00410-3. Full text in Research Archive
• Olsen, Eirik; Søraas, Camilla Lund; Schmieder, Roland E; Jamerson, Kenneth; MacDonald, Thomas M & Mancia, Giuseppe [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2025). Low Achieved Systolic Blood Pressure Related to Kidney Protection in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic High-Risk Hypertensive Patients. American Journal of Hypertension. ISSN 0895-7061. 38(12), p. 1106–1119. doi: 10.1093/ajh/hpaf093. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  BACKGROUND Protecting the kidneys by lowering systolic blood pressure (SBP) in hypertensive patients is not unequivocally settled. We tested the hypothesis that achieving lower average SBP in middle-aged and older high-risk hypertensive patients with and without type-2 diabetes mellitus through several years would clarify kidney protection. METHODS We analyzed patients 50–80 years with no cardiovascular events during the first 6 months of drug up-titration after randomization to valsartan or amlodipine, and with 3 or more visits onwards with standardized BP measurements. Adjusted Cox analyzes compared worsened kidney function defined as a 50% rise in se-creatinine on a minimum of two occasions at least 4 weeks apart or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in achieved SBP quartiles and in patients who achieved SBP < 130 and 130–139 mmHg with patients whose SBP remained ≥140 mmHg. RESULTS A total of 13,803 patients were investigated of whom 4,655 had DM. Patients with DM had less worsened kidney function at SBP 130–139 mmHg (HR = 0.524, 95% CIs 0.375–0.733, n = 1849, P < 0.001) and at SBP < 130 mmHg (HR = 0.538, CIs 0.316-0.915, n = 674, P = 0.022) compared with patients at ≥ 140 mmHg. They also had less ESKD at SBP 130-139 mmHg (HR = 0.442, CIs 0.196–1.000, P = 0.050) with a similar trend at SBP < 130 mmHg and in quartile analysis with only 1 ESKD in the lowest quartile. Findings in patients without DM (n = 9,148) were similar to DM. CONCLUSIONS In high-risk hypertensive patients aged 50–80 years, with and without DM, targeting SBP of 130–139 mmHg confers kidney protection with possible further benefit at the lower target of SBP < 130 mmHg. Clinical trials registration Trial Number NCT06395194, www.clinicaltrials.gov.

• Watland, Solbjørg; Nes, Lise Solberg; Ekeberg, Øivind; Rostrup, Morten; Hanson, Elizabeth & Ekstedt, Mirjam [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2025). Effects of The Caregiver Pathway intervention on symptoms of post-intensive care syndrome among family caregivers to critically ill patients: long-term results from a randomized controlled trial. Intensive Care Medicine. ISSN 0342-4642. 51(11), p. 2042–2053. doi: 10.1007/s00134-025-08139-x. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Purpose: A long-term evaluation of The Caregiver Pathway, a model to follow up family caregivers on Post-intensive Care Symptoms among Family (PICS-F). Methods: A single-center non-blinded randomized controlled trial including 196 family caregivers to critically ill patients randomized to intervention (n = 101) or control group (n = 95). The Caregiver Pathway intervention consists of: (1) a digital assessment followed by a conversation with a nurse in the first days at the ICU, (2) a supportive card when leaving the ICU, (3) an offer to receive a phone call following patient transfer to a step-down unit, and (4) a followup conversation within 3 months after discharge. Outcome measures were collected at 6 and 12 months, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL), hope,and self-efficacy. Results: The Caregiver Pathway was associated with a significant effect for symptoms of PTSD after 6 months compared with controls, mean IES-R score: 25.8 [95% CI 21.9–29.7] versus 30.9 [95% CI 26.7–35.0], p = 0.009, and a trend toward an effect after 12 months: IES-R score: 25.0 [95% CI 21.3–28.7] versus 28.4 [95% CI 24.1–32.7], p = 0.057. Subgroup analyses at 12 months showed a significant intervention effect among family caregivers of patients who survived compared to controls for PTSD, IES-R score: 19.8 [95% CI 15.3–24.2] versus 29.1 [95% CI 23.5–34.6], p = 0.001, and anxiety, HADS-A score: 4.3 [95% CI 3.1–5.4] versus 6.8 [95% CI 5.2–8.4], p = 0.003. Conclusions: The Caregiver Pathway has the potential to reduce the symptoms of PICS-F, especially among family caregivers whose patient has survived.

• Olsbø, Signe; Larsen, Marie Hamilton; Kiserud, Sara Georg; Hagen, Sæther Trine; Hermansen, Åsmund & Bjørnland, Kristin (2025). Parental health literacy in anorectal malformation: needs and challenges. Pediatric Surgery International. ISSN 0179-0358. 41(1). doi: 10.1007/s00383-025-06096-6. Full text in Research Archive
• Taylan, Fulya; Janhonen, Joel; Ekholm, Katja; Bajalica-Lagercrantz, Svetlana; Becker, Stefan & Benneche, Andreas [Show all 41 contributors for this article] (2025). The Nordic ChiCaP Network: An interdisciplinary approach to childhood cancer predisposition. Rare . ISSN 2950-0087. 3. doi: 10.1016/j.rare.2025.100111. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Testing for Childhood Cancer Predisposition (ChiCaP) syndromes is increasingly common in pediatric oncology as early identification can help adapt treatment and initiate surveillance. As such, ChiCaP testing can have medical, ethical, and psychological consequences for both the patients and their families, and present significant diagnostic challenges for pediatric oncologists. In response to these new opportunities and challenges, the Nordic ChiCaP Network was established in 2021, bringing together experts from pediatric and adult oncology, clinical genetics, molecular genetics, bioinformatics, epidemiology, psychology, anthropology, community medicine, law and ethics. Its primary goal is to advance our knowledge of ChiCaP in pediatric oncology research and care through an interdisciplinary approach. The network aims to achieve several key objectives: (1) to improve ChiCaP diagnostics, including gene-associated phenotypes and variant interpretation; (2) to advance understanding of the natural history, cancer risks, adverse treatment reactions, and comorbidities associated with ChiCaP syndromes; (3) to optimize and harmonize treatment protocols and surveillance strategies for affected patients and their families; (4) to address the ethical, legal and psychosocial aspects involved in testing, communication and counseling, diagnosing ChiCaP syndromes, and the impacts of surveillance on patients and their families; (5) to identify novel ChiCaP syndromes and explore their underlying mechanisms; and (6) to facilitate translation of research findings into clinical practice. By gathering interdisciplinary expertise and fostering collaboration across the Nordic countries, the Nordic ChiCaP Network will enhance knowledge and awareness of ChiCaP, improve early diagnosis, patient care, family support, and contribute to a better understanding of these complex genetic conditions.

• Pacheco, André Pekkola; Dammen, Toril; Munkhaugen, John; Papageorgiou, Constantinos; Kværner, Kari Jorunn & Støme, Linn Nathalie (2025). Potential benefits of group cognitive–behavioural therapy for insomnia in outpatients with coronary heart disease versus usual care: an early economic evaluation. BMJ Open. 15(12). doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-092811. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objective Insomnia afflicts about half of outpatients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and worsens prognosis. We aimed to simulate the potential socioeconomic savings of integrating group cognitive–behavioural therapy for insomnia (gCBT-I) into cardiac outpatient care for patients with CHD compared with usual care. Design Early health technology assessment using prospective and cross-sectional cohort data. Setting Secondary care for outpatients with CHD in Norway in a non-university hospital setting. Participants A hypothetical cohort of 100 outpatients with CHD and insomnia. Interventions Weekly sessions of gCBT-I over 5 weeks versus usual care. Primary and secondary outcome measures Potential savings related to possible effects on revascularisations and hospitalisations due to a recurrent CHD event, and reduced sick leave. Representative data on healthcare consumption and sick leave rates were collected from the NORwegian CORonary cohort study (n=528). Costs of productivity loss were drawn from public sources and calculated using a conservative human capital approach. Estimates of therapeutic effectiveness in conveying insomnia remission by gCBT-I were informed by results from randomised trials and meta-analyses. Results Rates of healthcare consumption and sick leave were higher in outpatients with CHD and insomnia compared with those without insomnia. Our model indicated that treating 100 patients with gCBT-I would cost €2406. If patients treated with gCBT-I show similar rates of revascularisations and hospitalisations as those without insomnia, there is a maximum potential saving of €117,221 per 100 patients tied to healthcare consumption. Similarly, the maximum potential savings related to reduced productivity loss from sick leave range from €53,244 to €692,172. Conclusion Treating insomnia among outpatients with CHD has the potential for substantial reduction of socioeconomic costs related to healthcare consumption and sick leave. Implementation into routine outpatient care seems relevant, but randomised controlled trials investigating the effects of gCBT-I in this population are warranted.

• Requier, Romane; Gimenez, Clara; Muraca, Monica; Lähteenmäki, Päivi M.; Gresle, Anne-Sophie & Henriksen, Louise Tram [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2025). The e-QuoL project: enhancing long-term follow-up care for childhood cancer survivors through digital innovation, results of an exploratory questionnaire. Journal of cancer survivorship. ISSN 1932-2259. doi: 10.1007/s11764-025-01854-w. Full text in Research Archive
• Selland, Mette; Rognli, Sylvia; Skaali, Tone Margrethe Olsbu; Blomhoff, Rune; Tjønnfjord, Geir Erland & Eriksen, Astrid M.A. [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2025). Distress, problems and unmet rehabilitation needs after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for haematologic malignancies: A cross-sectional study. European Journal of Oncology Nursing. ISSN 1462-3889. 80, p. 1–6. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2025.103083. Full text in Research Archive
• Aarskog, Nikolai Ravn; Bjørsrud, Hanna Othilie Lindvig; Holten, Aleksander Rygh; Watne, Leiv Otto; Neerland, Bjørn Erik & Rostrup, Morten (2025). Ventilatory response and delirium risk in hospitalised patients with acute hypoxia due to COVID-19. Scientific Reports. 15. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-13016-0. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Mountaineers with a high ventilatory response to hypoxia experience greater cognitive impairment at high altitude, possibly because hyperventilation causes hypocapnia, cerebral vasoconstriction and ultimately cerebral ischaemia. We hypothesised that a high ventilatory response, and consequently a lower arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), could increase the risk of delirium in hospitalised patients with acute hypoxia. To test our hypothesis, we conducted a cohort study in which PaCO2 and arterial oxygen saturation were measured upon hospital admission in 126 patients with COVID-19. After adjusting for oxygen saturation, we found that a lower PaCO2 was associated with a higher risk of delirium during hospital admission (risk ratio 1.67 [95% confidence interval 1.09–2.54] per 1 kilopascal reduction, P = 0.017). The association remained statistically significant after adjusting for other well-established risk factors for delirium. This finding supports our hypothesis that a high hypoxic ventilatory response increases the risk of delirium in patients with acute hypoxia.

• Dahl, Alv A; Smedsland, Solveig Katrine; Bøhn, Synne-Kristin Hoffart; Falk, Ragnhild Sørum; Horn, Julie & Kiserud, Cecilie E. [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2025). Subjective memory impairment in long-term breast cancer survivors—associated factors and comparisons to controls from the HUNT study. Journal of cancer survivorship. ISSN 1932-2259. doi: 10.1007/s11764-025-01957-4. Full text in Research Archive
• Aamodt, Anne Hege; Ueland, Thor; Boldingh, Marion Ingeborg; Bezgal, Burcu; Argren, Maria Bengtson Argren & Dunne, Cecilia Adele [Show all 29 contributors for this article] (2025). Altered amyloid plasma profile in patients with disabling headaches after SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. BMJ Neurology Open. 7(2). doi: 10.1136/bmjno-2024-001013. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background and objectives Persistent headache has emerged as a symptom following acute COVID-19 and, to a lesser extent, after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate plasma levels of amyloid-related biomarkers in patients experiencing persistent headaches after COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Methods In this prospective observational cohort, patients presenting with severe headache as the dominating symptom after COVID-19 (n=29) or SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (n=31) had neurological assessments with reassessments after 6 months. Plasma levels of amyloid precursor protein (APP), pregnancy zone protein (PZP), cathepsin L1 (CTSL) and serum Amyloid A (SAA1) were measured using ELISA and compared with levels in healthy controls (n=16). Results We found a strong and persistent upregulation of APP in patients with headache after COVID-19 as compared with the two other groups. Notably, APP levels remained elevated at both inclusion and after 6 months in individuals with accompanying cognitive symptoms. In contrast, PZP levels were increased in patients with headache after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination at both time points relative to healthy controls. CTSL was only elevated in the post-COVID-19 at baseline, whereas SAA1 showed levels comparable across all groups. Conclusion Altered plasma levels of soluble markers, potentially reflecting changes in amyloid processing, were found in patients with persistent headache following SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, particularly in those with persistent headache after COVID-19. In the latter group, we also found some association with cognitive symptoms. Trial registration numbers NCT04576351 and NCT05235776 .

• Zolfaghari, Mahshid; Lien, Nanna; Brandvik, Caroline Løvik; Klepp, Knut-Inge; Kopainsky, Birgit & Lie, Hanne Cathrine [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2025). Understanding the dynamics of implementing the Norwegian School Fruit Programme: integrating implementation science and system dynamics | Implementation Science Communications. Implementation Science Communications. p. 1–48. doi: 10.1186/s43058-025-00834-6. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Many implementation determinants of school nutritional interventions have been identified, but a deeper understanding of their interplay within a system is needed. The present study aimed to investigate how the Norwegian School Fruit Programme, particularly the No Parental Payment Programme (NPPP), is being implemented in schools and how it interacts with the school system structure and dynamics as perceived by school personnel and pupils. Moreover, it aimed to understand the dynamic interplay between the determinants of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) in the NPPP’s context. The overarching methodology was qualitative system dynamics modelling, with data collected through a series of group model building (GMB) workshops at four schools offering the NPPP. Using GMB scripts, facilitated discussions between school personnel and pupils were held for a better understanding of the NPPP’s implementation dynamics and to create diagrams illustrating how implementation determinants interact with each other and each school’s unique context. The individual school diagrams were compiled into a single diagram. The CFIR was subsequently mapped on to this diagram. Lack of communication with pupils, the food stores outside schools, and the NPPP’s design weakened the reinforcing mechanism that fostered pupils’ eating of fruit. Not eating enough of the fruit increased implementation costs because schools had to deal with leftover fruit and littering issues. Implementation costs caused schools to adopt implementation processes, like reflecting, engaging, and adapting to reduce the costs, although some of these did not work or counterintuitively decreased pupils’ eating of fruit. The success of these processes was contested by the design of the NPPP and mechanisms that were shaped by the goals and priorities of the schools. This research employed qualitative system dynamics to investigate NPPP implementation dynamics. Recommendations for improving implementation include aligning NPPP’s design with pupils’ preferences, monitoring eating of fruit, and involving internal stakeholders (pupils and school personnel) for gathering feedback, and external stakeholders (municipalities) for monitoring.

• Bang, Nina; Nesset, Merete Berg; Rasmussen, Kirsten; Dahl, Hilde; Bell, Christina & Fischer-Vieler, Thomas [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2025). Long-range temporal correlations in violence and psychosis: An EEG-based study. Journal of Psychiatric Research. ISSN 0022-3956. 193, p. 188–197. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.11.013. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background A subgroup of individuals with psychosis have increased violence risk. Long-range temporal correlations (LRTC) in electroencephalography (EEG) reflect neural dynamics, but their relevance to violence risk remains unclear. Methods Resting-state EEG was collected from four groups: healthy controls (HC, n = 134), individuals with psychosis and violence history (violent-PSY, n = 16), individuals with psychosis without such history (nonviolent-PSY, n = 38), and violent individuals without psychosis (violent non-PSY, n = 23). LRTC was quantified using detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) of mean and peak amplitude dynamics in alpha and beta bands during eyes-closed (EC) and eyes-open (EO) conditions, yielding eight metrics: LRTC for mean and peak amplitudes of alphaEC, betaEC, alphaEO, and betaEO. Results No significant group differences in LRTC were observed in eyes-open conditions (all p > 0.05). In contrast, eyes-close conditions showed significantly reduced LRTC in the nonviolent-PSY group relative to controls for mean alphaEC, peak alphaEC, and mean betaEC (all p < 0.05; Cohen's d's = 0.49–0.59). No significant LRTC difference emerged between violent and nonviolent psychosis groups. Other group comparisons were non-significant. Lower alpha-band LRTC was associated with greater symptom severity, including higher total PANSS and depressive subscale scores (all p < 0.05; r's = −0.26 to −0.28). Conclusions LRTC was reduced in the nonviolent-PSY group compared to controls but not significantly altered in the violent-PSY group. Nor did it differentiate between psychosis with or without violence history. Although further studies are needed, these findings provide limited support for LRTC as a marker of violence propensity in psychosis.

• Smeland, Olav B.; Kutrolli, Gleda; Bahrami, Shahram; Fominykh, Vera; Parker, Nadine & Fuhrer, Julian [Show all 21 contributors for this article] (2025). A genome-wide analysis of the shared genetic risk architecture of complex neurological and psychiatric disorders. Nature Neuroscience. ISSN 1097-6256. 28(12), p. 2439–2450. doi: 10.1038/s41593-025-02090-2. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Although neurological and psychiatric disorders have historically been considered to reflect distinct pathogenic entities, recent findings suggest shared pathophysiological mechanisms. However, the extent to which these heritable disorders share genetic influences remains unclear. Here we performed a comprehensive analysis of genome-wide association study data, involving nearly 1 million cases across ten neurological diseases and ten psychiatric disorders, to compare their common genetic signal and biological associations. Using complementary statistical tools, we demonstrate that a large set of common genetic variants impacts the risk of multiple neurological and psychiatric disorders, even in the absence of genetic correlations. Furthermore, genome-wide association studies on psychiatric disorders consistently implicate neuronal biology, whereas neurological diseases are associated with diverse neurobiological processes. Together, this study elucidates the genetic relationship between complex neurological and psychiatric disorders, indicating a larger degree of genetic pleiotropy than previously recognized. The findings have implications for disease classification, precision medicine and clinical practice.

• Fadum, Elin Anita; Ekeberg, Øivind & Hem, Erlend (2025). Job satisfaction in doctors with suicidal ideation: a national longitudinal panel study 2002–2021. BMC Psychiatry. 25(1), p. 1–9. doi: 10.1186/s12888-025-07101-x. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background This study examined the relationship between doctors’ job satisfaction over time and suicidal ideation, additionally describing job satisfaction in doctors who reported suicidal planning and attempt(s). Methods A national panel of Norwegian doctors was surveyed between 2002 and 2021 using Warr’s Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS) in 2002–2021, Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) in 2019/2021 and Paykel’s questionnaire for suicidal ideation in 2021. We included 1470 participating doctors in 2021 using multivariate logistic regression models to assess JSS and dimensions of MBI on suicidal ideation. Results Doctors with suicidal ideation (16%) scored on average 4.5 points lower on JSS (95% confidence interval (CI) -6.1 to -2.9) in 2019 with 7.2 points higher values of emotional exhaustion than the reference group (95% CI 5.4 to 9.1). Doctors with suicidal ideation consistently reported less job satisfaction in the period 2002–2021. In multivariate models, less JSS, higher values of emotional exhaustion and lower values of personal accomplishment remained predictors for suicidal ideation, whereas being in a relationship was a protective factor. Lifetime prevalence of suicidal planning and attempt(s) were 8.2% and 1.2%, respectively. Doctors with such suicidal behaviour had the highest values of emotional exhaustion in 2021 (32.1, 95% CI 29.5 to 34.8), but few stated work-problems as the main reason for a suicide attempt. Conclusions Doctors with suicidal ideation had less job satisfaction over a 20-year period prior to their suicidal ideation reports. Doctors with suicidal behaviour had the highest values of emotional exhaustion, but work problems were rarely reported as the main reason for a suicide attempt.

• Jortveit, Jarle; Munkhaugen, John; Kaldal, Anete & Halvorsen, Sigrun (2025). Sekundærforebygging hos hjerteinfarktpasienter med kjent koronarsykdom. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 145(15). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.25.0186. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Bakgrunn Sekundærforebyggende behandling for pasienter med kjent koronarsykdom reduserer risikoen for nye kardiovaskulære hendelser. Vi har undersøkt i hvilken grad pasienter med kjent koronarsykdom, innlagt med akutt hjerteinfarkt, hadde oppnådd behandlingsmålene for sekundærforebygging. Materiale og metode Studien benyttet data fra Norsk hjerteinfarktregister og inkluderte pasienter yngre enn 85 år med kjent koronarsykdom, som ble innlagt med akutt type 1-hjerteinfarkt i norske sykehus i tidsrommet 1.1.2013–31.12.2022. Resultater Av 74 993 pasienter yngre enn 85 år som var innlagt med akutt type 1-hjerteinfarkt, hadde 22 825 (30,4 %) kjent koronarsykdom. Av disse var 24,4 % kvinner, og medianalderen var 72 år (interkvartilbredde 64–78). Andelen med kjent koronarsykdom var stabil i studieperioden. Andelen ikke-røykere økte fra 71 % til 75 % (+0,7 % per år), andelen normalvektige ble redusert fra 33 % til 29 % (−1,8 % per år), og andelen som brukte blodplatehemmer og/eller antikoagulasjon økte fra 88 % til 91 % (+0,3 % per år). Andelen som brukte lipidsenkende behandling (77,0 %) og andelen som hadde LDL-kolesterol < 1,8 mmol/L (21 %) var stabile. Andelen med blodtrykk < 140/90 mmHg ble redusert fra 43 % til 30 % (−4,6 % per år frem til 2020, og uendret etter det). Fortolkning Studien viser behov for tiltak for å bedre den sekundærforebyggende behandlingen hos pasienter med koronarsykdom i Norge.

• Pleym, Karin; Sverre, Elise Christine Bjørkholen; Weedon-Fekjær, Harald; kahlon, Mohpal Singh; Stugaard, Marie & Husebye, Einar [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2025). Motivational smoking cessation counselling and community‐based follow‐up after hospitalisation for vascular disease: A randomised controlled trial. Addiction. ISSN 0965-2140. p. 1–13. doi: 10.1111/add.70249. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background and aims Evidence for motivational interviewing for smoking cessation is weak, with limited data on long-term abstinence rates. This trial aimed to evaluate the effect of in-hospital motivational interviewing-based smoking cessation counselling combined with proactive referral to community-based follow-up on 6- and 12-month continuous smoking abstinence in patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease. Design Multicentre, randomised, open-label, blinded-end-point trial with 1:1 randomisation. Setting Three secondary care hospitals in Norway, with recruitment from November 2021 to October 2023. Participants Hospitalised patients with established atherosclerotic vascular disease who smoked ≥1 cigarette daily prior to unplanned or elective hospitalisation. A total of 221 were randomised (40% women, mean age 65.2 years), of whom 213 were included in the primary analysis due to 7 deaths and 1 withdrawal. Intervention and comparator In the intervention group (n = 109), a trained nurse conducted a single 30-minute motivational interviewing-based counselling session, provided a leaflet explaining the local community-based cessation programme, sent discharge information to the general practitioner and arranged for a personal telephone invitation from the centre staff to the follow-up programme. In the control group (n = 111), a physician gave brief cessation advice and the nurse provided a leaflet about the cessation programme and sent discharge information to the general practitioner. Measurements The primary outcome was self-reported continuous smoking abstinence at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included biochemically validated abstinence (measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide) at 6 months and self-reported abstinence at 12 months. Exploratory outcomes included recurrent vascular events over a median 18-month follow-up. Findings Smoking abstinence at 6 months was 49.5% (53/107) and 24.5% (26/106) in the intervention and control groups, respectively [odds ratio (OR) = 3.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.70–5.55, P < 0.001]. The number needed to treat to achieve one additional abstinence was 4 (95% CI = 3–9). Biochemically validated abstinence was 44.9% (48/107) and 20.8% (22/106) in the intervention and control groups, respectively (OR = 3.28, 95% CI = 1.76–6.12). At 12 months, smoking abstinence was 45.7% (48/105) and 27.5% (28/102) in the intervention and control groups, respectively (OR = 2.31, 95% CI = 1.27–4.20). After a median of 18-month follow-up, a prespecified vascular event occurred in 24.8% (27/109) and 34.2% (38/111) of intervention and control participants, respectively. Conclusions In-hospital motivational counselling combined with proactive referral to follow-up in a community-based cessation programme approximately doubled long-term smoking abstinence rates in patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease and reduced occurrence of a new vascular event.

• Rossello, Xavier; Prescott, Eva Irene Bossano; Kristensen, Anna Meta Dyrvig; Latini, Roberto; Fuster, Valentin & Fagerland, Morten [Show all 22 contributors for this article] (2025). β blockers after myocardial infarction with mildly reduced ejection fraction: an individual patient data meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 406(10508), p. 1128–1137. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(25)01592-2. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background The effects of β-blocker therapy on clinical outcomes in patients with myocardial infarction and mildly reduced (40–49%) left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are largely unknown. Four recently conducted randomised trials tested the efficacy of β blockers after a recent myocardial infarction in patients without reduced LVEF (LVEF ≥40%). However, none were individually powered to assess these effects in the subgroup of patients with mildly reduced LVEF. We aimed to assess the efficacy of β blockers in patients with myocardial infarction and mildly reduced LVEF during the index hospitalisation. Methods We conducted an individual patient-level meta-analysis of patients with mildly reduced LVEF and no history or signs of heart failure from four recent clinical trials. These studies were included because they were randomised controlled trials testing long-term effects (median follow-up >1 year) of oral β-blocker therapy in patients who recently had a myocardial infarction (randomisation within 14 days) and had mildly reduced LVEF. No further studies were found in a systematic review (Jan 1, 2020 to June 26, 2025). A one-stage, fixed-effects, Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the treatment effect of β blockers on the predefined primary composite endpoint of all-cause death, new myocardial infarction, or heart failure. All endpoints were independently adjudicated. This meta-analysis was registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251023480). Findings 1885 patients with myocardial infarction and mildly reduced LVEF were included in the meta-analysis: 979 from the REBOOT trial, 422 from the BETAMI trial, 430 from the DANBLOCK trial, and 54 from the CAPITAL-RCT trial. Overall, 991 patients were assigned to β blockers and 894 to control (no β blockers). The primary composite endpoint occurred in 106 patients (32·6 events per 1000 patient-years) in the β-blocker group and 129 patients (43·0 per 1000 patient-years) in the no β-blocker group (hazard ratio 0·75 [95% CI 0·58–0·97]; p=0·031). No heterogeneity between the trials (trial-by-treatment pinteraction=0·95) or between countries of enrolment was observed (pinteraction=0·98). Interpretation In patients with acute myocardial infarction with mildly reduced LVEF without history or clinical signs of heart failure, β-blocker therapy was associated with a reduction in the composite of all-cause death, new myocardial infarction, or heart failure. These results extend the known benefits of these agents in patients with myocardial infarction with reduced LVEF to the subgroup with mildly reduced LVEF.

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• Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin (2026). Medical students admitted by grade point average present low personality diversity in Norway. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background ---- Norway admits medical students solely by GPA. Combined with free education and low attrition, future doctors are largely a result of self-selection. ---- Aim ------ Characterise personality traits of medical students at the University of Oslo and compare them with the Norwegian population and medical students in other countries. ---- Methods ---- Across 2022-2026, five newly admitted medical student cohorts completed the BFI-20S (n=535, 89%) and six the MBTI (n=632, 95%) personality tests (mean age = 22.1, 68% female). T-tests compared BFI-20S with Norwegian workers (n=6,372), French (n=1132) and German (n=880) medical students. Chi-squared tests compared MBTI sixteen personalities between general Norwegians (n=159,468), U.S. (n=83) and South Korean (n=171) medical students. ---- Results & Conclusion ---- On BFI (1–5), Norwegian medical students scored higher on Agreeableness, mean 4.3 (SD=0.5) and Extraversion, 3.7 (0.89), though lower in Neuroticism, 2.5 (0.8) than French (3.8, SD = 0.6; 3.1, SD = 0.8; 3.0, SD = 0.8) and German (4.2, SD = 0.6; 3.6, SD = 0.8; 2.9, SD = 0.8) medical students (p < 0.001). These also differed from Norwegian workers (p < 0.001). Most medical students were MBTI Extraverted (70%), Intuitive (59%), Feeling (66%), and Judging (78%). The ENFJ (22%) was overrepresented compared with U.S. (2%) and South Korean (3%) medical students, and Norwegians (6%) (p < 0.001). Norwegian medical students display high Conscientiousness and Agreeableness with gross overrepresentation of ENFJ. Although these are considered well-suited for medical practice, the limited personality diversity might implicate coping mechanisms and problem-solving strategies in the physician workforce.

• Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin; Moum, Torbjørn; Tyssen, Reidar & Breivik, Jarle (2026). Distinct and Narrow Personality Profile of Norwegian Medical Students: Implications of the National Admissions System. doi: https:/www.researchgate.net/publication/414086234_Distinct_and_Narrow_Personality_Profile_of_Norwegian_Medical_Students_Implications_of_the_National_Admissions_System. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background --- Medical school admissions shape the physician workforce. Norway admits students exclusively by GPA. With no selection for suitability and professional attitude, combined with free education and low attrition, the admitted cohorts are largely shaped by who chooses to apply. To explore this effect, we characterised personality traits of medical students at the University of Oslo and compared them with the Norwegian population and published samples from medical schools in other countries. --- Summary of Work --- Newly admitted medical students (2022–2025; mean age 22.1, 67% female) completed the BFI-20S (four cohorts, n=436, 91% response) and the MBTI (five cohorts, n=532, 95% response) personality tests. BFI measured Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Openness. One-sample t-tests compared mean scores with Norwegian workers (n=6,372). MBTI classified respondents on four dichotomies combined into 16 personality types. Chi-squared tests compared distributions between U.S. (n=83) and South Korean (n=171) medical students and the Norwegian general population (n=159,468). --- Summary of Results --- On the BFI, Norwegian medical students scored higher on Agreeableness, mean 23.9 (SD=3.0), Conscientiousness, 22.7 (3.6); Extraversion, 20.3 (5.9); Openness, 18.7 (4.7), and Neuroticism, 13.0 (4.8), than general Norwegian workers (22.2, SD=3.4; 20.5, SD=3.6; 19.0 SD=4.8; 17.8 SD=4.7; 12.0, SD=4.5, respectively, p<0.001). Female students reported higher Neuroticism (Pearson’s r=0.2, p<0.001) and Agreeableness (r=0.1, p=0.010) than male students. --- MBTI classified most medical students as Extraverted (69%), Intuitive (58%), Feeling (67%), and Judging (78%). The ENFJ type (Protagonist, 21%) was significantly overrepresented compared with U.S. (2%) and South Korean (3%) medical students, and the Norwegian population (6%) (p<0.001). The most common types among women were ENFJ/ESFJ (27%/14%); among men, ENTJ/INTJ (26%/13%). ---Discussion and Conclusion --- The Norwegian admission system is associated with elevated levels of Conscientiousness and Agreeableness and large overrepresentations of ENFJ/ENTJ. Although these traits and types can be well-suited for medical practice, limited diversity in perspective, leadership styles, and coping strategies might have implications for the composition of the physician workforce and patient care. --- Take-home Message(s) --- The Norwegian GPA-only admission model is associated with a distinct and narrow spectrum of personalities, with potential implications for physician well-being, leadership representation, and personality diversity.

• Wandem, Fredrik Solli & Hem, Erlend (2026). Podkast: Idiot, MBD og Asperger – Diagnosene som forsvant - Senter for spesialpedagogisk forskning og inkludering (SpedAims). Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Tidligere fantes det diagnoser i skolen og i helsevesenet som vi ikke bruker i dag. Mange av disse begrepene er helt borte. Andre har fått nye navn, og noen har blitt slått sammen med andre diagnoser. Men hvorfor endrer og fjerner vi diagnoser?

• Solheim, Andreas; Ringstad, Geir; Eide, Per Kristian; Nordengen, Kaja & Mardal, Kent-Andre (2026). Image registration as a tool for modeling and analysis of brain solute transport​. Full text in Research Archive
• Girelli, Alberto; Solheim, Andreas; Lian, Sofie Lysholm; Storås, Tryggve Holck; Nordengen, Kaja & Mardal, Kent-Andre (2026). Exploring dura hydrodynamics: The Role of the Meningeal Lymphatic Vessels in Brain Clearance. Full text in Research Archive
• Solheim, Andreas; Girelli, Alberto; Lian, Sofie Lysholm; Storås, Tryggve Holck; Nordengen, Kaja & Mardal, Kent-Andre (2026). Exploring the brain dura: Estimating meningeal lymphatic clearance through mathematical models. Full text in Research Archive
• Girelli, Alberto; Solheim, Andreas; Lian, Sofie Lysholm; Nordengen, Kaja; Storås, Tryggve Holck & Mardal, Kent-Andre (2026). Exploring the brain dura: a multiscale framework for dural lymphatic transport. Full text in Research Archive
• Girelli, Alberto; Solheim, Andreas; Lian, Sofie Lysholm; Storås, Tryggve Holck; Nordengen, Kaja & Mardal, Kent-Andre (2026). Computational Modeling of transport in the human brain dura. Full text in Research Archive
• Uhlen-Strand, Marte-Mari & Hem, Erlend (2026). Oral health literacy = munnhelsekompetanse | Den norske tannlegeforenings Tidende. 136, p. 392–393. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Health literacy kalles på norsk for helsekompetanse. Tilsvarende bør oral health literacy betegnes munnhelsekompetanse.

• Reme, Silje Endresen; Landmark, Live; Asprusten, Tarjei Tørre; Suvatne, Christer; Herner, Linn Breen & Drivenes, Elin [Show all 63 contributors for this article] (2026). Gi pasientene livet tilbake. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 146. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.26.0480. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Vi vet nok til å kunne hjelpe langt flere pasienter med langvarige symptomer. Likevel holder vi tilbake håpet, av frykt for å skuffe. Det kan koste pasientene store deler av livet. Denne kronikken er et faglig opprop fra 63 klinikere, forskere og fagpersoner fra hele landet. Vi har klinisk og forskningsmessig erfaring med vedvarende fysiske symptomer, som smerter, utmattelse, «hjernetåke», svimmelhet og mageplager og har samlet oss om et felles budskap: Ny kunnskap om hvordan slike symptomer oppstår og opprettholdes gir grunn til langt større håp om bedring enn mange pasienter får formidlet i dag.

• Johannessen, Tonje Rambøll; Atar, Dan; Halvorsen, Sigrun; Munkhaugen, John; Vallersnes, Odd Martin & Bakken, Arnhild [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2026). Point-of-Care High-Sensitivity Troponin Testing for Rapid Chest Pain Triage in Emergency Primary Care: Preliminary Single-Sample Efficacy Findings from the OUT-POC Study. Full text in Research Archive
• Otterstad, Jan Erik; Atar, Dan & Munkhaugen, John (2026). Betablokkerbehandling etter hjerteinfarkt? Oppdatert kunnskapsgrunnlag etter nyere studier. Indremedisineren. ISSN 1891-1617. p. 32–35. Full text in Research Archive
• Birkeli, Gørill; Ballangrud, Randi; Jacobsen, Hilde Kristin; Deilkås, Ellen Catharina Tveter & Lindahl, Anne Karin (2026). Collective Reflection and Learning Following the Green Cross Method. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The Green Cross method contributes to interprofessional discussions around patient safety incidents in daily safety briefings and weekly reflections. The Green Cross method was implemented in a Norwegian postanaesthesia care unit in February 2019. The purpose of this presentation is to report the findings following the implementation of the Green Cross method over a period of four years (2019-2022) regarding: How does the Green Cross method affect collective reflection and learning in a postanaesthesia care unit?

• Boye, Birgitte; Abrahamsen, Cathrine; Helgeland, Helene; Kristiansen, Hege; Diseth, Trond Haaken & Elgen, Irene Bircow [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2026). Jan Christian Vestre, Helse Midt-Norge | Jan Christian Vestre: Leger krever krafttak mot funksjonelle lidelser. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Én av tre pasienter ved norske sykehus lider av plager leger ikke finner ut av. Samfunnskostnadene er enorme.

• Cairns, Patrick; Knapstad, Ida Katrine; Ishaq, Bushra; Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin; Wangensteen, Urd Teresia & Pedersen, Reidar [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2026). Norway Update – Nordic ChiCaP symposium. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Conference talk at symposium for members of the Nordic Childhood Cancer Predisposition collaboration group – 13th-14th April 2026.

• Cairns, Patrick; Ishaq, Bushra; Knapstad, Ida Katrine; Pedersen, Reidar; Hofmann, Bjørn Morten & Wangensteen, Urd Teresia [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2026). Hopes and Concerns of Adolescent Patients and their Caregivers Related to Genetic Predisposition Testing in Childhood Cancer Care: A Three-Year Longitudinal Follow-Up. Full text in Research Archive
• Cairns, Patrick; Ishaq, Bushra & Lie, Hanne Cathrine (2026). Psychosocial Group – Literature resource. Full text in Research Archive
• Munkhaugen, John (2026). Skal vi fortsatt gi betablokker etter hjerteinfarkt? Hjerteforum. ISSN 0802-1465. 39(1), p. 86–88. Full text in Research Archive
• Olsen-Hagen, Nicolay Morland; Tovi, David; Clarsen, Benjamin Matthew; Rygh, Cecilie Brekke; Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin & Clemm, Hege Synnøve Havstad [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2026). 33 Prevalence, incidence and risk factors of spondylolysis in youth football: a longitudinal study among male Norwegian players. BMJ Open sport & exercise medicine. 12(Suppl 1), p. A12–A12. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2026-sportskongres.33. Full text in Research Archive
• Munkhaugen, John; Bakken, Arnhild; Kristiansen, Anna Meta Dyrvig; Edvardsen, Thor; Wiseth, Rune & Steigen, Terje [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2026). Sekundærforebygging med betablokkere etter hjerteinfarkt. 146. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.25.0735. Full text in Research Archive
• Ishaq, Bushra; Cairns, Patrick; Knapstad, Ida Katrine; Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin; Bentzen, Heidi Beate & Pedersen, Reidar [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2025). The PROTECT-CARE study: Psychosocial, communication, ethical and legal aspects of childhood cancer predisposition testing in clinical care. Full text in Research Archive
• Cairns, Patrick; Ishaq, Bushra; Knapstad, Ida Katrine; Hofmann, Bjørn Morten; Bentzen, Heidi Beate & Wangensteen, Urd Teresia [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2025). Exploring psycho-social-ethico-legal issues related to genetic predisposition testing in pediatric cancer – the PROTECT-CARE study. Full text in Research Archive
• Hem, Erlend & Bringedal, Berit (2025). Dårligere kvalitet med private løsninger. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 145(5). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.25.0156. Full text in Research Archive
• Hem, Erlend (2025). Når egennavn blir en del av allmennspråket. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 145(15). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.24.0580. Full text in Research Archive
• Breivold, Jørgen & Hem, Erlend (2025). Portvakt eller portvokter? Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 145(12). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.25.0177. Full text in Research Archive
• Helgeland, Helene; Boye, Turid Birgitte; Kristiansen, Hege; TANGEN, MARTE KVITTUM; HØIFØDT, HEIDI SVANØE HAFSTAD & Herner, Linn Breen [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2025). Pasienter med funksjonelle lidelser trenger et bedre behandlingstilbud. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.24.0567. Full text in Research Archive
• Helgeland, Helene; Boye, Birgitte & Kristiansen, Hege (2025). Pasienter med funksjonelle lidelser trenger et bedre behandlingstilbud - PubMed. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.24.0567. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Pasienter med funksjonelle lidelser trenger et bedre behandlingstilbud

• Demoor-Goldschmidt, Charlotte; Michel, Gisela; Roganovic, Jelena; Thierry-Chef, Isabelle; Lähteenmäki, Päivi M. & Muraca, Monica [Show all 76 contributors for this article] (2025). Addressing survivorship care gaps through digital innovation: opportunities, challenges, and ethical considerations in the e-QuoL project. doi: 10.1186/s12885-025-14897-0. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancers (CAYAC) present unique challenges in oncology. Advances in treatment Have led to an 80% 5-year survival rate; however, CAYAC survivors (CAYACS) remain at high risk of long-term medical and psychosocial complications, significantly impacting their quality of life. Short and long-term follow-up care is recommended, but is often fragmented, with considerable disparities in availability and accessibility across Europe. Many existing digital tools primarily address medical needs, leaving psychosocial challenges unaddressed. The e-QuoL project aims to bridge these gaps by leveraging existing digital health solutions to provide equitable, person-centered survivorship care. Methods The e-QuoL project employs a participatory approach involving survivors, families, healthcare professionals (HCP), and researchers. Using the FormIT methodology, the project follows three phases: Explore, Create, and Evaluate. The Explore phase includes a large-scale cross-sectional survey across 15 European countries to assess the unmet needs of CAYACS and their families. The Create phase involves co-creation workshops to develop and refine digital tools, including MyCaree-QuoL tool, which will supplement survivorship care passports, to provide personalized medical and psychosocial support. The Evaluate phase comprises usability testing and clinical studies in at least seven European countries to assess effectiveness, scalability, and real-world applicability. Discussion The e-QuoL project builds on existing digital health innovations while adapting them to diverse European healthcare systems. By developing MyCaree-QuoL, the project fosters a decentralized, person-centered model of survivorship care to promote equal access to quality survivorship support for CAYACS and HCPs. Ethical considerations, including data privacy, patient consent, and equitable access, are central to the project, with dedicated Ethics and Social Challenge Groups guiding implementation. Digital disparities remain a challenge, particularly for survivors from lower socio-economic backgrounds or remote areas. To mitigate this, e-QuoL will work with healthcare professionals to offer additional in-person support to complement digital interventions. The project aligns with Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, aiming to improve quality of life and reduce disparities in care. By fostering collaboration among 30 partners across 15 countries and hosting resources on the PanCare website, e-QuoL seeks to ensure long-term impact, contributing to the goal of high-quality, equitable survivorship care across Europe.

• Agarwal, Arnav; Mustafa, Reem; Manja, Veena; Agoritsas, Thomas; MacDonald, Helen & Li, Sheyu [Show all 24 contributors for this article] (2025). Cardiovascular, kidney related, and weight loss effects of therapeutics for type 2 diabetes: A living clinical practice guideline. The BMJ. 390. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2024-082071. Full text in Research Archive
• Hem, Erlend (2025). Edvard Munchs hjerteblod. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 145(12). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.25.0504. Full text in Research Archive
• Børdahl, Per E & Hem, Erlend (2025). Hvordan har svangerskapets varighet blitt beregnet gjennom tidene? Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 145(15). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.25.0459. Full text in Research Archive
• Munkhaugen, John (2025). Skal vi fortsatt gi betablokker etter hjerteinfarkt? Hjerteforum. ISSN 0802-1465. 38(4), p. 57–59. doi: https:/indd.adobe.com/view/98ace418-b1fc-430f-a093-651296c8f47e. Full text in Research Archive
• Børdahl, Per E & Hem, Erlend (2025). Sandborg-Vedelers tang – en innovasjon i fødselstangens gullalder. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 145(8). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.25.0022. Full text in Research Archive
• Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin (2025). Medical students need teamwork training. Full text in Research Archive
• Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin (2025). Personality among first-year medical students. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjørneboe, John Andreas; Dahlén, Sara; Sandmo, Stian Bahr; Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin & Andersen, Thor Einar (2025). Ingen økt risiko for nevrodegenerativ sykdom hos tidligere kvinnelige toppfotballspillere. Idrettsmedisinsk Høstkongress. p. 12–12. doi: https:/www.researchgate.net/publication/397709745_Ingen_okt_risiko_for_nevrodegenerativ_sykdom_hos_tidligere_kvinnelige_toppfotballspillere. Full text in Research Archive
• Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin & Breivik, Jarle (2025). Bruk av standardiserte læringsaktiviteter for å måle samarbeidskompetanse hos førsteårs medisinstudenter. doi: https:/www.researchgate.net/publication/397561644_Bruk_av_standardiserte_laeringsaktiviteter_for_a_male_samarbeidskompetanse_hos_forstears_medisinstudenter. Full text in Research Archive
• Slapø, Nora Berz; Jørgensen, Kjetil Nordbø; Jönsson, Erik Gunnar; Moberget, Torgeir & Elvsåshagen, Torbjørn (2026). Relationship Between Function and Structure in the Visual and Auditory Cortices in Psychotic Disorders. Universitetet i Oslo. ISSN 9788234807848. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Psychotic disorders are severe conditions that often involve changes in perception, such as visual and auditory hallucinations. Previous research has suggested that the brain regions responsible for processing visual and auditory information may function differently in these disorders. However, it is unclear why these functional changes occur. The main aim of this thesis was to investigate how brain function and brain structure are related in the visual and the auditory cortices, both in healthy individuals and in people with psychotic disorders. Brain function was measured using electroencephalography (EEG), specifically event related potentials (ERPs), which capture the brain’s electrical responses to external sensory stimuli. Brain structure was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to provide information about cortical surface area, thickness, and myelination. In this thesis, I focused specifically on examining both the function and the structural characteristics of the visual and auditory cortices, in order to better understand how alterations in these regions may be linked to psychotic disorders. The study included healthy control participants as well as individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders or bipolar disorder. In healthy individuals, the results showed a positive relationship between the strength (amplitude) of the P100 component of the visual evoked potential (VEP) - an EEG measure reflecting function in the visual cortex - and the surface area of the visual cortex. In other words, a larger visual cortical surface area was associated with a stronger neural response to visual stimuli. Among individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, a lower amplitude of the N100 component of the auditory evoked potential (AEP) - an EEG measure reflecting activity in the auditory cortex - was associated with a thinner auditory cortex. This association was particularly evident in individuals who had experienced auditory hallucinations. These findings suggest that structural and functional changes in the auditory cortex may be linked and could reflect a shared neural mechanism related to auditory hallucinations. The results also indicated that biological sex may play a role in how psychotic disorders affect brain function. Males with schizophrenia spectrum disorders showed lower N100 amplitudes compared to healthy males, whereas no comparable differences were observed among women. This highlights the importance of considering biological sex in neurobiological research and may help why illness trajectory and treatment response often differ between men and women. Measures of myelin in the auditory cortex did not explain the observed correlations between reduced auditory function (lower N100 amplitude) and thinner auditory cortex in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The findings show a clear link between brain structure and function in the visual cortex of healthy individuals and in the auditory cortex of individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. They highlight the importance of studying basic sensory processes to better understand psychotic symptoms, as early sensory alterations may form part of the neurobiological basis of these disorders. The results also emphasize the need to consider biological sex in future research. Greater insight into these mechanisms may ultimately contribute to improved diagnostics and more targeted, effective treatments for psychotic disorders.

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