Factors related to non-recovery from whiplash. The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT).

Background: Whiplash injuries show a variable prognosis which is difficult to predict. Most individuals experiencing whiplash injuries rapidly recover but a significant proportion develop chronic symptoms and ongoing disability.

Purpose: By employing longitudinal data, we investigated how psychological and physical symptoms, self-rated health, use of health services and medications, health behavior and demographic factors predict recovery from whiplash.

Somatic symptoms beyond those generally associated with a whiplash injury are increased in self-reported chronic whiplash. A population-based cross sectional study: the Hordaland Health Study (HUSK).

Background: Chronic whiplash leads to considerable patient suffering and substantial societal costs. There are two competing hypothesis on the etiology of chronic whiplash. The traditional organic hypothesis considers chronic whiplash and related symptoms a result of a specific injury.

Pre-injury health-related factors in relation to self-reported whiplash: longitudinal data from the HUNT study, Norway.

Purpose: To examine if pre-injury health-related factors are associated with the subsequent report of whiplash, and more specifically, both whiplash and neck pain.

Methods: Longitudinal population study of 40,751 persons participating in two consecutive health surveys with 11 years interval. We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratio (OR) for reporting whiplash or whiplash with neck pain lasting at least 3 months last year, related to pre-injury health as indicated by subjective health, mental and physical impairment, use of health services, and use of medication.

Reverse causality in the association between whiplash and symptoms of anxiety and depression: the HUNT study.

Study Design: Longitudinal population-based cohort study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the possibility of reverse causality, that is, if symptoms of anxiety and depression are associated with incident self-reported whiplash injury. The clinical relevance of self-reported whiplash injury was evaluated by its association with subsequent disability pension award.

Symptom profile of persons self-reporting whiplash: a Norwegian population-based study (HUNT 2).

The aetiology of chronic whiplash associated disorder (WAD) is unclear and the condition has been perceived both as a chronic pain disorder, based on the injury to the neck, and as a functional somatic disorder. Based on the hypothesis that chronic WAD should be perceived as a functional somatic syndrome, we compared the symptom profile of persons with chronic WAD with the profile of persons with a functional somatic disorder, and with the profile of persons with an organic pain disorder. A sample of 55,046 persons participating in a Norwegian population-based health study (HUNT 2) was divided into four study groups: chronic WAD, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and controls (none of these disorders).

Gambling behavior and gambling problems in Norway 2007.

In Norway, legalized gambling is pervasive, easily accessible and socially accepted, particularly the participation in national lotteries. We conducted a stratified probability sample study during January-March 2007 (age group 16-74 years, N = 3,482, response rate 36.1%) to assess gambling behavior and prevalence of problematic gambling by the NORC Diagnostic Screen (NODS).

Gambling problems in the family--a stratified probability sample study of prevalence and reported consequences.

Background: Prior studies on the impact of problem gambling in the family mainly include help-seeking populations with small numbers of participants. The objective of the present stratified probability sample study was to explore the epidemiology of problem gambling in the family in the general population.

Methods: Men and women 16-74 years-old randomly selected from the Norwegian national population database received an invitation to participate in this postal questionnaire study.

Internet addiction among Norwegian adults: a stratified probability sample study.

Most Norwegians are Internet users. We conducted a stratified probability sample study (Norway, 2007, age-group 16-74 years, N= 3,399, response rate 35.3%, 87.

Validation of the lie/bet screen for pathological gambling on two normal population data sets.

The validity of the Lie/Bet Screen was tested on two community population samples, one adult (n=2,014) and one adolescent sample (n=3,237), in Norway. With positive responses on at least one of the questions on Lie/Bet Screen used as the cutoff point the screen showed high both sensitivity and specificity. The negative predictive value was also high, but the positive predictive value was comparatively lower.

A population study of anxiety and depression among persons who report whiplash traumas.

The purpose of this study was to explore whether self-reported whiplash traumas were associated with increased prevalence of anxiety disorder and depression. A cross-sectional design (N = 61,110) based on data from the health study (HUNT-II) was used. Anxiety and depression were measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).