Tore Sørlie

Psychotherapy supervision conducted by videoconferencing: a qualitative study of users’ experiences:

Psychiatry residents in Norway have 70 hours of mandatory psychotherapy supervision to develop insights into the therapeutic relationship. Six supervision pairs (six candidates and two supervisors) conducted five videoconferencing-based supervision sessions (384kbit/s) and five face-to-face sessions alternating weekly for 10 sessions. Following completion of the 10 sessions for candidates and supervisor B, and the 50 sessions for supervisor A, all subjects completed a semi-structured interview within two weeks. The eight subjects reported a wide range of experiences and attitudes. The results suggested that the quality of supervision can be satisfactorily maintained by using videoconferencing for up to half of the 70 hours required. The precondition for this estimate is that the pair in question have met face to face and established a relationship characterized by mutual trust and respect. Further studies, which include supervision pairs not having previously established relationships, are needed in order to indicate the generality of this precondition. The most obvious implication of this study is the potential for implementing decentralized models for recruiting and educating psychiatrists.

The factor structure of The Ways of Coping Questionnaire and the process of coping in surgical patients

Abstract The factor structure of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ) was examined in one sample of 555 adults treated with surgery. The reproducibility of the structure and the stability of the item-factor loadings was evaluated in a separate sample of 482 adults in which coping with different surgical conditions was measured at four points of time. The goodness-of-fit to the data were tested in two postulated models representing different relationships between the derived factors. A five-factor model yielded psychometrically adequate, conceptually consistent and reproducible scales based on 26 of the original 66 items. Three of the scales, wishful thinking, avoidance, and thinking it over, appeared to represent ‘passive’ or emotion-focused strategies. The remaining two scales, goal oriented coping and seeking support, appeared to represent ‘active’ cognitive and interpersonal strategies in which efforts were made to do something actively in order to alleviate the problem causing the distress. A second order factor model in which ‘passive’ and ‘active’ coping mechanisms were influenced by their respective correlated second order factors described the relationship among the factors better than did a model with a general second order coping factor.

Ethnic discrimination and psychological distress: a study of Sami and non-Sami populations in Norway

The prevalence of psychological distress and its association with ethnic discrimination was examined among 13,703 participants (36 to 79 years of age) in a population-based study of health and living conditions in areas with indigenous Sami, Kven (descendants of Finnish immigrants), and Ethnic Norwegian populations (the SAMINOR study). Sami and Kven males reported greater levels of stress than Ethnic Norwegians. Ethnic discrimination was strongly associated with elevated levels of psychological distress. Results suggest that ethnic discrimination is a major potential risk factor for poor mental health, and may contribute to ethnicity-related differences in mental health between Sami and non-Sami populations.

Does Personality Moderate the Effects of Mindfulness Training for Medical and Psychology Students

The majority of mindfulness research to date has reported only on the group-level effects of interventions. Therefore, there is a need to better understand who is most likely to benefit from mindfulness interventions. This study reports on moderation analyses from a two-centre randomised controlled trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) among 288 medical and psychology students. The study investigated whether baseline personality factors (neuroticism, conscientiousness and extroversion) and baseline mindfulness moderated effects on mental distress, study stress and subjective well-being measured after the intervention. An increased effect of the intervention on mental distress and subjective well-being was found in students with higher scores on neuroticism. Students with higher scores on conscientiousness showed an increased effect of mindfulness training on study stress. The training protected students against an increase in mental distress and study stress and a decrease in subjective well-being that was seen in the control group. Baseline mindfulness and extroversion did not moderate the effects of the intervention on the outcomes. The majority of the 288 medical and psychology students in the study sample were female. Female participants scored significantly higher on neuroticism and conscientiousness, and they may therefore be an important target group for mindfulness interventions among students.

Predictors of the process of coping in surgical patients

Abstract The present study examined predictors of coping in 482 surgical patients in which coping with different surgical conditions was measured at four points of time. Previously, conceptually consistent and psychometrically adequate coping scales from the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ), that grouped into correlated ‘passive’ and ‘active’ coping strategies, had been derived. Both strategies declined significantly over time and shared three of six different psychological predictors: emotional symptoms, stress, and the personality factor, extraversion. Chance health locus of control and neuroticism predicted passive while openness predicted active coping. Emotional symptoms predicted a prolongation in the use of active coping. The findings indicate that coping is multifactorially determined and that there is a substantial general coping-response in the stressed individual, who tends to use all of the available strategies during an acute coping response to stress.

Psychometric properties of the Type D scale (DS14) in Norwegian cardiac patients

The combination of negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI) - the Type D Personality - is associated with poor outcomes in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. A Norwegian translation of the standard instrument measuring Type D (DS14) was tested on 432 CAD patients receiving coronary revascularization treatment. Factor analysis produced two factors with high inter-item reliability, indicating that the Norwegian DS14 has acceptable psychometric properties. Eighteen percent were classified as Type D, lower than has been reported elsewhere. Type D was associated with anxiety, depression, and passive coping. NA correlated positively with depression, anxiety, and passive coping. SI correlated positively with depression and anxiety, and negatively with active coping. The prevalence of Type D was higher among women, and negatively correlated with time since treatment. The variation in Type D prevalence among studies needs further elucidation as does the predictive power of continuous scoring of the Type D trait.

Psychosocial predictors of an interest in cosmetic surgery among young Norwegian women: a population-based study.

Tromsø, Norway Background: The present study investigated psychosocial factors expected to predict an interest in cosmetic surgery. It was hypothesized that body dysmorphic disorder–like symptoms, personality, interpersonal attachment insecurity, low self-esteem, poor body image, dissatisfaction with sexual life, distorted eating behavior, emotional distress, low education, poor relationship with parents and friends, teasing history, social acceptance of cosmetic surgery, and low level of physical activity would relate to an interest in cosmetic surgery. Methods: Questionnaire data were obtained from 1880 participants who responded to a survey distributed to a representative sample of 3500 Norwegian women between 18 and 35 years of age living in the two northernmost counties. Data were analyzed by univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: Multiple regression analyses showed that an interest in cosmetic surgery was positively related to body dysmorphic disorder–like symptoms, body image orientation, having children, been teased for appearance, knowing someone who has had cosmetic surgery, and being recommended cosmetic surgery. Agreeability, body image evaluation, education, and quality of relationship with parents were negatively related to an interest in cosmetic surgery. Conclusions: The study gives new insights into psychosocial factors predicting an interest in cosmetic surgery. In addition to previously known predictors, having been teased for appearance and having children were positive predictors, whereas education and quality of relationship with parents were negative predictors of an interest in cosmetic surgery. The results may contribute to a better understanding of the various factors that may motivate an individual to undergo cosmetic surgery. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 124: 2142, 2009.)

Psychotherapy supervision conducted via videoconferencing: A qualitative study of users' experiences

The 70 h of mandatory psychotherapy supervision for psychiatry residents in Norway is designed to develop insight into the therapeutic relationship. Essential in fulfilling the intentions of psychotherapy supervision is, for example, the ability to openly express and utilize personal experiences, emotions, and reactions. Six supervision pairs?six candidates and two supervisors?participated in a study to evaluate the quality of the psychotherapy supervision process when the supervisors and candidates communicate by means of interactive audiovisual videoconferencing (VC)? Each candidate and their respective supervisors participated in 60 supervised sessions, with 5 VC-based and 5 face-to-face sessions alternating every other session weekly. The part of the study reported in this article is based on qualitative interviews conducted at the conclusion of the 10 sessions. The article concludes that the quality of psychotherapy supervision can be satisfactorily maintained by using VC (384 kbit/sec) for up to 50%...

Different labour outcomes in primiparous women that have been subjected to childhood sexual abuse or rape in adulthood: a case–control study in a clinical cohort

To compare the duration and outcome of the first labour in women who have been subjected to childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and women who have been raped in adulthood (RA).

Use of traditional healing among Sami psychiatric patients in the north of Norway

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to learn more about the extent of, and factors related to, the use of traditional and complementary healing modalities among Simi psychiatric patients. STUDY DESIGN: A quantitative survey among psychiatric patients in Finnmark and Nord-Troms, Norway. RESULTS: A total of 186 Sami and Norwegian patients responded to the survey, a response rate of 48%. Of these, 43 had a strong Sami cultural affiliation. Use of traditional and complementary treatment modalities was significantly higher within the Sami group. Factors related to use differed between Sami and Norwegian groups. Sami users were found to give greater importance to religion and spirituality in dealing with illness than Sami patients who had not used these treatments. They were also found to be less satisfied with central aspects of their psychiatric treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found several differences in factors related to the use of traditional and complementary treatments between Sami and Norwegian psychiatric patient groups. Sami users were found to give greater importance to religion and spirituality and were less satisfied with the public psychiatric services than Sami patients who had not used traditional or complementary treatments. The study implies that finding ways to include different aspects of traditional healing within the health services to the Sami community should be given consideration.