Sandnessjoen

This research aims to evaluate a new approach for diagnosing and treating acute ischemic stroke AIS in rural areas, where timely access to stroke care can be challenging. The trial tests whether using remote-controlled CT scanning combined with real-time audio and video conferencing guidance from an experienced hospital stroke team can reduce the time to receive intravenous thrombolytic treatment compared to the standard care pathway. The study focuses on improving treatment speed to enhance patient outcomes in decentralized medical centers DMCs. Participants in the intervention group receive stroke diagnosis and treatment at decentralized medical centers equipped with stationary CT scanners controlled remotely by stroke teams from local hospitals. Ambulance personnel and nurses work together with stroke physicians via video conference to perform clinical assessments, position patients in the CT scanner, and interpret images. If appropriate, intravenous thrombolysis and blood pressure medication are administered locally before transferring patients to hospitals if needed. The control group includes patients from similar rural areas who receive usual hospital-based stroke care, including a historical group from before the new model was implemented. Throughout the study, researchers will monitor and compare the time from emergency call notification to treatment initiation, door-to-needle times, use of thrombolysis and endovascular therapy, neurological improvement, and patient outcomes such as disability scores and mortality. Patient assessments include stroke severity scores, imaging evaluations, and follow-up at 90 days and one year. The total participation duration varies depending on individual treatment and follow-up schedules, with comprehensive safety and outcome monitoring integrated into the trial design.

Researchers are studying predictors of clinical course and treatment response in patients receiving Dialectical Behaviour Therapy DBT in Norway. The study focuses on individuals with repeated self-harm behavior and borderline personality disorder, aiming to understand which patient characteristics and treatment factors influence outcomes such as symptom levels, functioning, problem behaviors, and emergency service use. This research is a collaboration between The National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention and clinical units with DBT programs. Participants receive either DBT adapted for adolescents DBT-A over 20 weeks or the standard DBT for adults lasting 52 weeks. DBT-A includes weekly individual therapy, multifamily skills training, family therapy as needed, and telephone coaching. Standard DBT involves weekly individual therapy, weekly skills training, and telephone coaching outside sessions. Assessments occur before treatment, during treatment at several points, at treatment end, and follow-up, using interviews and patient self-reports. During the study, patients provide self-report data electronically on tablets and via a mobile app several times daily. Therapists enter interview and rating data into the database. The main outcomes measured include self-harm behavior, suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms, borderline symptoms, and hopelessness at various intervals. The study collects data over time to evaluate clinical changes and treatment impact, with participation lasting through the treatment and follow-up periods.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing EMDR therapy as an add-on treatment for trauma symptoms in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders SSDs. Trauma is common in this group and negatively affects prognosis, but trauma treatment is not currently standard due to limited evidence. This pragmatic, assessor-blinded, randomized trial compares EMDR plus treatment as usual TAU to TAU alone, aiming to reduce trauma symptoms and improve personalized therapy approaches. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive up to 26 sessions of EMDR designed specifically for psychosis, alongside their usual treatments, or to continue with TAU as a waiting list control for six months. EMDR therapy includes eight flexible phases targeting trauma memory reprocessing with adaptations for psychosis-related challenges. The study includes careful monitoring of trauma symptoms, psychosis severity, autonomic arousal, and inflammation markers throughout treatment and follow-up. Participants will complete assessments at baseline, mid-treatment 12 weeks, end of treatment 6 months, and at 6- and 12-months post-randomization to evaluate long-term effects. Digital self-reports, blood samples, biosensor measurements during sessions, and clinical records will be used to track symptoms, safety, and treatment adherence. The primary outcome is trauma symptom change measured by the International Trauma Questionnaire ITQ. Additional measures include psychosis symptoms, stress biomarkers, and patient experience. The total study duration for each participant covers at least 12 months of follow-up.