Men's Experiences of Violence in Intimate Relationships

This open access book draws on a broad study on violence against men, from both male and female partners in Norway, to contribute to the research on intimate partner violence. It identifies similarities in men's experiences and backgrounds, including in their perceptions of their own victimisation. Marianne Inez Lien and Jørgen Lorentzen argue that the traditional gender power model should be modified and supplemented, and propose that we consider violence in terms of psychological supremacy, rather than in terms of femininity and masculinity. Men's Experiences of Violence in Intimate Relationships will appeal to students and scholars across a range of areas including criminology, sociology and family violence, and gender studies

Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 and all-cause mortality in persons with co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness during the pandemic: a Norwegian cohort study

Purpose - Most people were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Persons with co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD) and mental illness (MI) are already a marginalized group, with above average mortality. Thus, the study aim was to investigate SARS-CoV-2 incidence and mortality among persons with SUD/MI during the first two years of the pandemic. Methods - This historical cohort study merged data from the Norwegian Patient Register, the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases and census data from Statistics Norway. We calculated crude mortality rates for persons with SUD and mild/moderate vs. severe MI and compared them to persons with physical illnesses or healthy controls. The incidence rate ratios for SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality were estimated using Poisson regression models. Results - Compared to healthy controls, the SARS-Cov-2-infection rate was marginally lower in persons with SUD and mild/moderate MI (IRR,1.19 [95%CI,1.09–1.30]) as in persons with physical illness (IRR,1.35 [95%CI, 1.23–1.47]), whereas persons with SUD and severe MI showed a lower rate compared to healthy controls. Crude mortality rates for persons with SUD/MI were substantially higher and increased much more during the pandemic than for persons with physical illnesses or healthy controls. The IRR for mortality in persons with SUD and mild/moderate MI was 10.61 (95%CI,7.19–15.67) and 11.44 (95%CI,7.50-17.45) for SUD and severe MI, compared to 5.03 (3.34–7.57]) for persons with physical illnesses only. Conclusion - The analysis showed excess mortality during COVID-19-pandemic for SUD/MI, but without higher SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in this group. Consequently, excess mortality among persons with SUD/MI was not due to SARS-CoV-2 infection

Smoking among inpatients in treatment for substance use disorders: prevalence and effect on mental health and quality of life

Background - Smoking is still prevalent among people with substance use disorders. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of smoking among patients in treatment for substance use disorders and to analyze the effect of smoking both at baseline and follow-up on drop-out, mental health and quality of life. Methods - One hundred and twenty-eight inpatients (26% female), mainly with alcohol use disorder, staying at three different rehabilitation clinics in Eastern Norway, were interviewed at admission, and at 6 weeks and 6 months follow-up. The interview contained mental health-related problems, trauma, questions on alcohol and other substances and quality of life. Non-parametric tests were used to test group differences and unadjusted and adjusted linear regression to test the associations between smoking and the main outcome variables, while logistic regression was used to test the association between smoking and drop-out. Results - At admission, 75% were daily smokers. Compared to non-smokers at baseline, the smokers had higher drop-out rates (37% vs. 13%), more mental distress, and lower quality of life from baseline up to 6 months follow-up. Those quitting smoking while admitted improved in mental distress and quality of life at the same rate as non-smokers. Alcohol-related factors did not differ between smokers and non-smokers. Conclusions - Smoking was associated with mental distress, quality of life and treatment drop-out among patients in primary alcohol use disorder treatment. The results indicate that smoking cessation should be recommended as an integral part of alcohol use treatment both before and during inpatient treatment to reduce drop-out

ADHD symptoms as risk factor for PTSD in inpatients treated for alcohol use disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more common in alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients than in the general population. Still, there is a lack of knowledge about the relationship between the two conditions in these patients. The main objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of ADHD symptoms, and the relationship between ADHD symptoms and PTSD in AUD inpatients in treatment. Data from 85 AUD patients were collected. The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) was used to measure ADHD symptoms in all patients. Differences between groups split by PTSD diagnosis and by ASRS clinical cut-off were described, and the relationship between ADHD symptom level and PTSD was tested in a multiple regression model. Almost half the patients scored above ASRS cut-off and 14% had PTSD. Of the patients whose score was above cut-off on the ASRS 23% had PTSD, versus 7% among those below cut-off. Higher ASRS score was associated with PTSD even when age, sex and trauma were adjusted for. This study confirms the high level of ADHD symptoms in AUD patients in treatment. Diagnostic evaluation of PTSD is recommended in patients with ADHD attending inpatient treatment programs for AUD

Effects of age and gender on the relationship between alcohol use disorder and somatic diseases: a national register study in Norway

Objective - This study aimed to examine how age and gender moderate the associations between alcohol use disorders (AUD) and several somatic diseases. Design and setting - We performed a retrospective, register-based cohort study with 6-year follow-up of patients with AUD and the general population. Data were acquired from the Norwegian Patient Registry. Cox regressions were used to estimate HRs of somatic diseases. Participants - Patients with AUD (17 023; 0.4%) were compared with the population without AUD (4 271 559; 99.6%), with adults aged 18 years or older who were registered residents of Norway on 1 January 2008. Main outcomes - Dichotomous variables of 12 specific somatic diseases (cardiovascular diseases, endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases) were assessed. Diagnoses were set in specialist healthcare services. Results Patients with AUD, compared with a population without AUD, experienced a significantly greater burden of all studied somatic diseases. Middle-aged adults with AUD had increased risks (p0.05). Males with AUD had significantly higher risks for pulmonary heart diseases (HR=3.9, 95% CI 3.3 to 4.6) and metabolic disorders (HR 4.7, 95% CI 4.5 to 5.0), while females with AUD had a significantly higher risk for viral hepatitis (HR=4.4, 95% CI 3.8 to 5.1). Conclusions - Age moderated the associations between AUD and most somatic diseases, with middle-aged adults with AUD having a greater increased risk of somatic diseases compared with younger and older adults with AUD. Gender only moderated associations between AUD and pulmonary heart diseases, metabolic disorders and viral hepatitis. This has implications for the prioritisation of somatic resources among patients with AUD

Factors associated with the level of prolactin in patients under remission from Alcohol Use Disorder: A gender perspective

Background: Prolactin mirrors the dopaminergic activity in the brain which is key to understanding alcohol use disorders (AUD). Still, patients with AUD are a heterogenous group and there seem to be gender differences in the relationship between alcohol use and the level of prolactin. In this study, we examined gender-wise relationship of alcohol use trait- and state-related factors with the level of prolactin among AUD inpatients in remission. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined the level of prolactin along with general patient characteristics and alcohol use trait- and state-related factors that could influence the level of prolactin in 112 AUD inpatients at three rehabilitation clinics in Norway. Logistic regression was performed to identify the gender-specific predictors of level of prolactin. Results: Male and female AUD patients had similar level of prolactin. Among females, younger age, early alcohol debut, and absence of parental drinking problem predicted higher level of prolactin. In males, presence of other substance dependence predicted a lower level of prolactin. Conclusions: There were gender differences in the factors associated with the level of prolactin among the AUD patients. Especially in the female AUD patients under remission, alcohol use trait-related factors were better predictors of the level of prolactin than the alcohol use state-related factors, indicating that individuals might characteristically have varying degree of dopamine reactivity

Antisocial Personality Disorder Among Patients in Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD): Characteristics and Predictors of Early Relapse or Drop-Out

Background: Patients with alcohol use disorders (AUD) vary significantly in many clinically important characteristics making them a heterogenous group. AUD patients with comorbid antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) form an important sub-group, and studies indicate that these patients may have poorer treatment outcomes. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the characteristics of AUD inpatients with comorbid ASPD and identify predictors of early relapse or treatment drop-out in these patients. Methods: In a longitudinal study of AUD patients (n = 113; 30 females; aged 27 to 72 years) in treatment at three residential rehabilitation clinics in Norway, we used interviews and self-report questionnaires to collect data on alcohol use, mental health, and trauma experience. In addition, we assessed biochemical parameters. The patients were followed up at 6 weeks to identify early relapse or drop-out. Results: Prevalence of ASPD among AUD patients was 15%. AUD patients with comorbid ASPD were exclusively male, of younger age, and reported more childhood trauma, and adult attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder symptoms. They reported more hazardous drinking behavior and more often had dependence on substances in addition to alcohol. The presence of ASPD did not predict early relapse or drop-out. However, early relapse or drop-out in ASPD patients was associated with childhood and adult trauma, younger age of drinking debut, and higher baseline prolactin levels. Conclusion: AUD patients with ASPD had different clinical characteristics to other AUD patients and they had specific predictors of early relapse or drop-out. Our findings indicate that the early relapse or drop-out among AUD patients with ASPD may be attributed to environmental and possibly biological vulnerability. However, further studies with larger sample size are warranted to confirm these preliminary associations. Keywords: alcohol use disorder, antisocial personality disorder, relapse, drop-outpublishedVersio

En surveyundersøkelse av elevers motivasjon i utforskende matematikkundervisning

Denne masteravhandlingen er en kvantitativ tverrsnittsundersøkelse med formål om å undersøke om det er sammenheng mellom elevers opplevelse av egen motivasjon og deres eksponering for utforskende matematikkundervisning. I tillegg undersøkte også studien forskningsspørsmål som er relevante for studiens formål. Det teoretiske rammeverket og operasjonaliseringen av variablene som inngår i studien er hentet fra tidligere validerte studier og anerkjent teori. Gjennom spørreundersøkelse i Nettskjema har studien samlet inn data fra 349 ungdomsskoleelever fra hele landet. Spørreskjemaet stilte elevene spørsmål om deres trinn, kjønn og karakter, samt innhentet informasjon om deres motivasjon, relasjon til lærer, trivsel på skolen og deres oppfatninger om matematikk. På denne måten tok studien høyde for mange av de andre variablene som kan påvirke en elevs motivasjon, i tillegg til type undervisning. Den innhentede dataen ble så analysert på forskjellige måter, for å besvare forskningsspørsmålene, og til slutt studiens formål. Her inngikk alt fra enkel deskriptiv statistikk og korrelasjonsanalyser, til avanserte stegvise regresjonsanalyser, med alle variablene involvert. Det viktigste funnet disse analysene belyste synes å være at det finnes sammenhenger mellom elevenes opplevelse av egen motivasjon, og deres eksponering for utforskende matematikkundervisning, dersom man ikke inkluderer flere variabler i analysene (korrelasjonsanalyser). Når alle de uavhengige variablene ble sjekket for effekt på elevens motivasjon samtidig, i regresjonsanalysene, viste det seg derimot at undervisningsmetoden elevene eksponeres for ikke nødvendigvis har avgjørende effekt for hvordan elevene opplever egen motivasjon. Disse analysene avdekket derimot at relasjon til lærer, samt elevenes oppfatninger om matematikken, er de variablene som har størst innvirkning og effekt på elevenes opplevelse av egen motivasjon