Halden

Researchers are evaluating a preventive intervention called Condensed Internet-delivered Prolonged Exposure CIPE for people experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD about one month after a traumatic event. The goal is to test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of CIPE when added to usual treatment provided by psychosocial crisis teams in Norwegian municipalities. This study addresses the lack of evidence-based preventive interventions available for victims after crises and disasters in Norway. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either treatment-as-usual TAU alone or TAU plus the CIPE intervention. CIPE is a therapist-supported, internet-based program consisting of four modules delivered over six weeks. Participants are encouraged to engage daily with their therapist through a secure platform and may have phone sessions. The total therapist contact is generally under 60 minutes, while participants work on intervention tasks about six hours weekly. TAU involves proactive support from interdisciplinary crisis teams following national guidelines. Throughout the one-year study period after trauma, participants undergo assessments including the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 at 10 to 13 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months post-trauma. Other measures include depression, insomnia, grief symptoms, treatment satisfaction, and quality of life. Researchers will monitor use of specialized mental health services and cost-effectiveness. The study aims to understand how CIPE plus usual care compares to usual care alone in reducing PTSD symptoms and improving overall outcomes.

Erythromelalgia is a rare condition marked by red, warm, and painful extremities, often triggered by warm environments. The exact cause is not fully understood, and managing pain is difficult since no single treatment works for everyone. This research aims to evaluate how well spinal cord stimulation works for treating pain that has not responded to other medical treatments in people with erythromelalgia. Participants will receive a spinal cord stimulator implanted, which sends electrical pulses through a thin wire to nerves near the spinal cord. The study involves four six-week periods where participants will experience either the burst spinal cord stimulation or no stimulation sham in a randomized order. Each participant will have two periods of actual stimulation and two periods of sham stimulation. During the study, participants will be monitored for changes in pain over six months. Researchers will also assess quality of life, disability levels, daily physical activity, redness severity, and healthcare costs. The study uses careful monitoring and randomization to compare the effects of the stimulation versus no stimulation over this time frame.