Sandnessjoen

This research investigates whether remote-controlled CT scanning combined with real-time audio and video conference assessment by an experienced hospital stroke team (tele-stroke) at decentralized medical centers can reduce the time to start intravenous thrombolytic treatment for acute ischemic stroke. The study focuses on patients in rural Norway, where long distances to hospitals make timely stroke treatment challenging. Intravenous thrombolysis is known to improve outcomes if given within 4.5 hours of symptom onset, and rapid CT scans are needed beforehand to rule out bleeding in the brain. Participants in the intervention group are admitted to decentralized medical centers where paramedics perform initial stroke assessments overseen remotely by stroke physicians through video conferencing. A remote-controlled CT scan is done on site, and treatment decisions are made in real time by the stroke team. If treatment is indicated, it is given by local staff before the patient is transported to a hospital if needed. Patients who cannot reach the decentralized center before hospital admission will be treated at their local hospital following the standard care pathway. During the study, researchers will measure the time from emergency medical notification to the start of intravenous thrombolysis and compare this between the intervention group and a control group receiving standard care at local hospitals. The study aims to assess feasibility, treatment access, timing, and patient outcomes. All treatments and monitoring follow hospital standard procedures, and regular training ensures patient safety throughout the study period.

Researchers are studying patients with self-harm behaviors and borderline personality disorder who are receiving Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) in clinical units across Norway. The goal is to identify factors that predict how patients respond to treatment and their clinical progress, including the impact of patient characteristics like psychiatric diagnoses, previous behaviors, and treatment history. This project is a collaboration between the National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention and clinical DBT programs, using a standardized system to collect and compare treatment data across different settings. The study includes two types of DBT treatments: one adapted for adolescents (DBT-A), which involves 20 weeks of weekly individual therapy, multifamily skills training, family therapy as needed, and telephone coaching; and the standard DBT version for adults, which consists of weekly individual therapy, weekly skills training, and telephone coaching as needed. Treatments are delivered by clinical units that use a uniform protocol for psychiatric diagnosis and clinical assessment, tailored for either children/adolescents or adults. Participants will undergo baseline assessments before treatment, multiple evaluations during therapy, at treatment end, and during follow-up. Data collection includes interviews and ratings by therapists plus self-reports by patients using tablets and a mobile app for frequent emotional and behavioral tracking. Researchers will measure outcomes such as self-harm behavior, suicidal thoughts, depressive symptoms, emotional regulation, coping skills, social and occupational functioning, and use of emergency services to better understand treatment response and clinical changes over time.

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) often involve trauma, affecting 65 to 80% of patients and impacting their prognosis. Trauma treatment is not commonly offered for SSDs due to limited evidence. This trial evaluates the effectiveness of adding Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a trauma-focused therapy, to standard treatment in patients with SSDs. The main goal is to see how EMDR affects trauma symptoms over time. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either EMDR plus their usual treatment or usual treatment alone, with a waiting list control component. EMDR involves up to 26 sessions that focus on safely processing traumatic memories, with special adaptations for psychosis. The therapy includes phases such as history taking, preparation, memory reprocessing, and safety measures, tailored for those with psychosis. During the study, participants will be assessed before treatment, midway (12 weeks), at the end of treatment (6 months), and at 6 and 12 months after treatment to track long-term effects. Assessments include trauma symptom questionnaires, digital self-reports every two weeks, blood tests for inflammation markers, biometric sensors during sessions, and safety monitoring by therapists. Researchers will measure changes in trauma symptoms and other health and cost outcomes to understand EMDR's impact.