Torture victims' perspective on dental treatment: "Every sign you make, every move you take" - A qualitative study.

Torture victims struggling with post-traumatic stress often experience elements in the dental treatment situation that may trigger trauma-related reactions. The aim of the study was to explore intervention strategies that will enable dental health workers to adapt dental treatment to the needs of torture survivors. Exploratory interviews were conducted with 10 torture-exposed resettled refugees with dental treatment experience in Norway.

Prevalence of mental distress and factors associated with symptoms of major depression among people living with HIV in Norway.

For people living with HIV (PLHIV) who can access lifesaving treatment, HIV has become a chronic lifelong condition; however, PLHIV have more mental and somatic comorbidities than their HIV-negative peers. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the prevalence of mental distress and identified factors associated with major depression among 244 well-treated PLHIV residing in Norway. Participants completed validated questionnaires covering mental and somatic health.

Factors associated with health-related quality of life in people living with HIV in Norway.

Background: Despite the advances in the treatment of HIV, people living with HIV (PLHIV) still experience impairment of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The aim of the study was to explore factors associated with HRQOL in a well-treated Norwegian HIV population.

Methods: Two hundred and forty-five patients were recruited from two outpatient clinics to participate in this cross-sectional study of addiction, mental distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, fatigue, somatic health, and HRQOL.

Beyond challenges and enrichment: a qualitative account of cross-cultural experiences of nursing patients with an ethnic minority background in Norway.

Background: Substantial mass migrations to the Scandinavian countries have made them heterogeneous and multicultural societies. Migration has also influenced the workforce, especially the healthcare system that has had to accommodate a culturally diverse population. This qualitative study aimed to explore nurses' experiences in caring for patients with an ethnic minority background.

Navigating the care between two distinct cultures: a qualitative study of the experiences of Arabic-speaking immigrants in Norwegian hospitals.

Background: During the past decades, there has been an increase in the number of immigrants to European and Scandinavian countries. This has challenged the health-care systems, which cater to the needs of patients despite their cultural and linguistic barriers, in these countries. Most studies on this topic have focused on the perspectives of health-care providers in delivering their service.

Prevalence and predictors of fatigue among people living with HIV in Norway.

Fatigue is the most commonly noted symptom among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV). The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and predictors of fatigue among PLHIV in Norway. Two hundred and forty-four people were recruited from two hospitals to participate in a survey, which contained seven instruments used to investigate mental health, addiction, quality of life, and fatigue.

Combining psychotherapy with craniosacral therapy for severe traumatized patients: A qualitative study from an outpatient clinic in Norway.

Background: Craniosacral therapy (CST) is an established complementary modality for several health complaints. A clinic for psychosomatics in Norway has included CST into a multimodal treatment approach for severely traumatized patients. The aim of this study was to investigate and describe the indications for the use of craniosacral therapy within trauma therapy.

Dental anxiety in relation to torture experiences and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Torture victims often show symptoms of dental anxiety when receiving dental care, but little systematic research is available. The purpose of this study was to explore torture experiences, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and dental anxiety in refugees in Norway and to test the hypothesis that refugees with torture experiences are more prone to dental anxiety than refugees with no such experiences. A total of 173 refugees were interviewed shortly after an oral examination.

Oral Health Challenges in Refugees from the Middle East and Africa: A Comparative Study.

The aim was to explore and compare oral health and need for dental treatment in newly arrived refugees from the Middle East and Africa to Norway. Oral examination and structured interviews were performed with attending interpreters. Associations between origin and measures for oral health were studied with multiple linear regression.

Behavioural group therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder in Norway. An open community-based trial.

The aim of the current study was to test the effectiveness of ERP-based 12 weeks group therapy for OCD patients in a community-based, general Norwegian outpatient clinic. The sample consisted of 54 patients diagnosed with OCD. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) were administered before treatment, after treatment and at 3- and 12-month follow-ups.

The psychological and social situation of repatriated and exiled refugees: a longitudinal, comparative study.

Aims: The aim of this study was to explore possible differences in the longitudinal course of psychological symptoms and somatic symptoms between one group of Bosnian refugees returning to their home country (B) and one group remaining in the host country (N). The aim was also to look for possible differences in pre-flight traumatic experiences and psychological symptom load within the groups. In addition the experiences of returning home after a period in exile were studied, based on quantitative and qualitative data.