Geir Nielsen

University of Bergen | UiB · Department of Clinical Psychology

Aim To explore experiences of change among participants in a randomized clinical trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for anxiety disorders. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the subjective experiences of change for individuals with anxiety disorders after a course in MBSR. Interviews were analysed employing...

Objective The aim of this pilot study was to explore what students of psychotherapy learn from intensively reviewing the work of experienced therapists whilst being focused on process measures developed to capture clients' emotional expressions. Methods We interviewed 12 students who participated in the training and coding of emotional processes i...

Psychotherapy researchers are increasingly using qualitative approaches to gain knowledge about the experiential, relational, and sociocultural aspects of psychological treatments. In this article, we explore and discuss five core functions of qualitative approaches within this field. They include: (a) a discovery function—to fill in knowledge gaps...

Objective: This study aimed to determine the relative impact of person-related, work-related and physically intimidating bullying behaviors on suicidal ideation two and five years after the fact. Methods: Logistic regression analyses were utilized to examine relationships between bullying behaviors and suicidal ideation in a random and represent...

Objectives. We examined whether victimization from bullying is related to an increased risk of suicidal ideation over time and whether suicidal ideation is related to subsequent bullying. Methods. In a longitudinal study (2005–2010), we used well-established single-item measures to assess victimization from bullying and suicidal ideation. We used...

While group supervision in psychotherapy training has gained increasing attention, particularly in university settings, research on the group format is still scarce. The aim of the present, interview-based, qualitative study was to explore how group supervision is managed by experienced supervisors. Sixteen supervisors were interviewed. All partici...

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) show promising results in both clinical and non-clinical settings. A number of studies indicate that self-reported mindfulness is associated with adaptive psychological functioning and decreased symptom distress. However, there have been no systematic reviews of research on self-reported mindfulness as an outc...

Traditionally, clinical supervision has been practiced mostly in a dyadic form, that is, as individual supervision. However, over the past decades, group supervision has gained increasing attention. Today, many training sites prefer the group format, even though its research base is still scarce. The aim of this study was to explore clinical group...

Mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions (MABIs) are receiving increasing attention in the treatment of mental disorders. These interventions might be beneficial for patients with anxiety disorders, but no prior reviews have comprehensively investigated the effects of this family of interventions on clinical samples. The aim of this study wa...

In the short-term dynamic psychotherapy model termed "Affect Phobia Treatment," it is assumed that increase in patients' defense recognition, decrease in inhibitory affects (e.g., anxiety, shame, guilt), and increase in the experience of activating affects (e.g., sadness, anger, closeness) are related to enhanced self-compassion across therapeutic...

The aim of this study was to conduct a further investigation of the reliability of an innovative new measure for examining processes within psychotherapy sessions, the Achievement of Therapeutic Objectives Scale (ATOS). The ATOS assesses seven common factors in psychotherapy: insight, motivation, activating affects, inhibitory affects, new learning...

Interviews were conducted to explore the recall of impasse experiences of 12 highly skilled and experienced therapists. Participants were interviewed in depth individually about a specific impasse from their experience that resolved successfully. The transcribed interviews were analysed using qualitative methodology. The authors found that particip...

Aim: Much research has been undertaken to identify significant events and change processes in psychotherapy. Most of these studies use categories and concepts consonant with the researcher's particular theoretical affiliation. But how do patients themselves, retrospectively, give meaning to what they felt most important for their realization of cha...

In the two preceding papers in this issue of Nordic Psychology the authors report findings from studies of nondisclosure among student therapists and clinical supervisors. The findings were reported separately for each group. In this article, the two sets of findings are compared, so as to draw a picture of mutual assumptions and facts about nondis...

The aim of this study was to investigate aspects of nondisclosure in a sample of 30 psychotherapy supervisors, working within a group format of supervision of student therapists. The study constituted one part of a larger study, with the other, parallel part addressing nondisclosure in supervisees. The participants were recruited from seven univers...

The aim of this study was to investigate aspects of nondisclosure in a sample of 55 student therapists, working within a group format of supervision. The study constituted one part of a larger study, with the other, parallel part addressing nondisclosure in supervisors. The participants were recruited from seven university-based training clinics in...

The aim of this study was to explore how former psychotherapy patients characterize "good outcome" after having completed treatment that they described as successful, in the sense that therapy had changed their lives in ways that made a difference. Semistructured qualitative depth interviews were conducted with 10 former psychotherapy patients. A h...

strong> Background: Method: Results: Conclusion: Key Words: insomnia; older adults; diagnosis; perception of sleep The results cast doubts about the usefulness of the common criteria (30 minutes sleep onset latency and wake after sleep onset) used in clinical contexts to diagnose insomnia. Unrealistic positive expectations about sleep changes...

This study explored associations between self-esteem and interpersonal functioning in a one-year clinic cohort of psychiatric outpatients (n= 338). At intake, patients completed questionnaires measuring self-esteem, interpersonal problems, interpersonal style, and general symptomatic distress. They were also diagnosed according to the ICD-10. Inter...

The aim of this study was to investigate aspects of nondisclosure in a sample of 55 student therapists, working within a group format of supervision. The study constituted one part of a larger study, with the other, parallel part addressing nondisclosure in supervisors. The participants were recruited from seven university-based training clinics in...

The aim of this study was to investigate aspects of nondisclosure in a sample of 55 student therapists, working within a group format of supervision. The study constituted one part of a larger study, with the other, parallel part addressing nondisclosure in supervisors. The participants were recruited from seven university-based training clinics in...

In the two preceding papers in this issue of Nordic Psychology the authors report findings from studies of nondisclosure among student therapists and clinical supervisors. The findings were reported separately for each group. In this article, the two sets of findings are compared, so as to draw a picture of mutual assumptions and facts about nondis...

What challenges do therapists face when they experience ruptures in the working alliance in psychotherapy with adolescent clients; and what are their most typical strategies when they try to re-establish contact? These issues were explored through qualitative interviews with nine psychotherapists from outpatient child and adolescent psychiatric cli...

Even if low self-esteem is one of the formal diagnostic criteria for depression, negative self-evaluation has repeatedly been suggested as a feature of most psychiatric disorders, in addition to a range of psychosocial problems. The present study investigated predictors of self-esteem in a one-year clinic cohort of psychiatric outpatients (n = 338)...

Objective: To explore psychotherapists' experience of the challenges that occur when they try to establish contact and a therapeutic bond with adolescents in therapy. Design: Qualitative interviews with psychotherapists. A descriptive and hermeneutically informed phenomenological approach was used to analyse the transcripts. Participants: Nine psyc...

Article provides input to a possible model for explaining the development of sexualised problem behavior in children and adolescents.

The present study explores the accuracy and clinical utility of actigraphy compared with polysomnography in older adults treated for chronic primary insomnia. Polysomnographic and actigraphic data were collected before and after treatment. A university-based outpatient clinic for adults and elderly. Thirty-four participants with chronic primary ins...

Affect consciousness refers to the ability to adequately perceive, reflect upon and express affect. The concept is used in clinical work with adults, but lacks an equivalent for children's experience of affect. This paper examines the developmental prerequisites for affect consciousness, as well as the concept's applicability to work with children....

Insomnia is a common condition in older adults and is associated with a number of adverse medical, social, and psychological consequences. Previous research has suggested beneficial outcomes of both psychological and pharmacological treatments, but blinded placebo-controlled trials comparing the effects of these treatments are lacking. To examine s...

Abstract –The aim of this study was to validate the Kleinknecht's Dental Fear Scale and the Getz's Dental Belief Survey in a Norwegian sample by 1) testing their ability to discriminate between fearful (n= 151) and regular (n= 160) patients, and 2) correlating them. Both instruments were highly reliable (Cronbach's alpha >0.90). Between 81% and 95%...

Most elderly persons do not need mental health services. Despite the many challenges in late life, older people cope quite well. Further, a minority of older people have diagnosable psychiatric disorders, although it should be noted that older people, in particular, may suffer from psychiatric disorders that are not adequately diagnosed. Rates of m...

Psychoanalysis has so far only to a limited extent examined specifically grown-up and mature organizations of the self. The Freudian contributions mainly examine the impact of losses on the second half of life. The Eriksonian approaches put greater emphasis of possible gains and adaptation, while less attention is paid to inner, subjective life. In...

Nordhus, I.H. & Høstmark Nielsen, G. (2005). Mental disorders in old age: Clinical syndromes, prevalence and benefits of psychological treatment. Nordisk Psykologi, 57, 1, 86–103. Most elderly persons do not need mental health services. Despite the many challenges in late life, older people cope quite well. Further, a minority of older people have...

Fifty-five insomniacs, 60 years or above, participated in a behavioral treatment program, comparing two interventions (sleep hygiene+stimulus control vs sleep hygiene+relaxation tape). Half of the subjects were randomized to a waiting-list condition prior to treatment. No significant changes were observed during the waiting-list period. During the...

Sixty insomniacs, aged 60 years or over, fulfilling the DSM-IV criteria for primary insomnia, completed a set of questionnaires measuring psychological distress. These included the Sleep Impairment Index (SIM), the Symptom Check List 90-Revised (SCL-90-R), the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) and the...

A representative adult sample (18 years and above) of the Norwegian population, comprising 2001 subjects, participated in telephone interviews, focusing on the one-month point prevalence of insomnia and use of prescribed hypnotics. Employment of DSM-IV inclusion criteria of insomnia yielded a prevalence rate of 11.7%. Logistic regression analysis p...

Insomnia is characterized by problems initiating and maintaining sleep—problems that often go unrecognized by psychotherapists as well as physicians. This article addresses central questions related to the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of this problem. Differential diagnosis is focused upon as well as the comorbidity with psychiatric and org...

This article is based on experiences in implementing a clinical training program applying individual psychotherapy with older adults in a university outpatient clinic. A case illustration of a 68-yr-old married woman with an anxiety disorder is introduced to demonstrate how presenting complaints are translated into cyclical maladaptive patterns, a...

This study identifies personality characteristics in a group of Swedish women (N = 60) attending their first treatment for alcohol problems. The treatment programme specifically addressed women in an early phase of their drinking career, and was called "Early Treatment of Women with Alcohol Addiction" (EWA). Rorschach personality profiles of the 60...

This study identifies personality characteristics in a group of Swedish women (N=60) attending their first treatment for alcohol problems.The treatment programme specifically addressed women in an early phase of their drinking career, and was called "Early Treatment of Women with Alcohol Addiction" (EWA). Rorschach personality profiles of the 60 wo...

The aim of this study was to validate the Kleinknecht's Dental Fear Scale and the Getz's Dental Belief Survey in a Norwegian sample by 1) testing their ability to discriminate between fearful (n = 151) and regular (n = 160) patients, and 2) correlating them. Both instruments were highly reliable (Cronbach's alpha > 0.90). Between 81% and 95% of the...

An integrative form of brief dynamic psychotherapy was applied in 2 cases of insomnia. One patient had a sleep-onset latency problem, while the other suffered from early morning awakening. The treatments are described, and data on the long- and short-term effects of therapy are presented.

An integrative form of brief dynamic psychotherapy was applied in 2 cases of insomnia. One patient had a sleep-onset latency problem, while the other suffered from early morning awakening. The treatments are described, and data on the long- and short-term effects of therapy are presented.

Change was assessed in 34 patients at the end of short-term dynamic psychotherapy (STDP), and at 2 follow-ups (1 year and 2 years subsequent to treatment). The assessment was made from different perspectives and according to multiple criteria and methods of measurement. The results indicate that, when a particular form of STDP is selected according...

Ten outpatients who complained of physical symptoms, without organic pathology, were treated with brief dynamic psychotherapy. Outcome ratings were provided by independent assessors at the end of therapy and 2 years post treatment. Improvement criteria included symptoms, adaptive functioning, and specific internal predispositions. The results showe...

The selection criteria of Sifneos' short-term anxiety-provoking psychotherapy has been assumed to consist of two separate dimensions, resources and motivation. A factor analysis revealed three factors: ego-resources, motivation for psychotherapy and motivation or desire to change. The resource items on the evaluation form constitute one factor as a...

Forty-four patients were assessed for three different short-term dynamic therapies, with an evaluation form based on Sifneos' criteria for Short-Term Anxiety-Provoking Psychotherapy (STAPP). Ten patients were ascribed to STAPP, 22 patients to Malan's Brief Psychotherapy (BP), and 12 patients to a more eclectic/integrative form of brief psychotherap...

Forty-four patients were assessed for three different short-term dynamic therapies, with an evaluation form based on Sifneos’ criteria for Short-Term Anxiety-Provoking Psychotherapy (STAPP). Ten patients were ascribed to STAPP, 22 patients to Malan’s Brief Psychotherapy (BP), and 12 patients to a more eclectic/integrative form of brief psychotherap...

Change was assessed in 34 patients at the end of short-term dynamic psychotherapy (STDP), and at 2 follow-ups (1 year and 2 years subsequent to treatment). The assessment was made from different perspectives and according to multiple criteria and methods of measurement. The results indicate that, when a particular form of STDP is selected according...

Mæland, K.J. & Nielsen, G.: Computerized psychological testing and diagnostics. Nordisk Psykologi, 1985, 37 (3), 204–212.

The authors comment upon various models of brief dynamic psychotherapy, particularly Sifneos' "Short-term anxiety-provoking psychotherapy" and Malan's "Brief psychotherapy". An outline is given of an ongoing clinical study, which includes 44 patients and three different forms of brief therapy. All patients go through a comprehensive clinical assess...