From PRISM to different psychosis states
Her doctorate was supposed to be about developing and implementing the diagnostic interview PRISM, which separates symptoms caused by intoxication and withdrawal from symptoms that are associated with mental disorders.
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond her control the project was difficult to implement.
Therefore the the eager phd-student ended up using three different data materials on the same topic in her degree.
Lack of knowledge on the risk of use
In her PhD, she investigates the relationship between substance abuse and psychosis.
- More specifically, I look at drug-induced psychosis, primary psychosis and psychotic symptoms. In addition, the differences and similarities between these conditions and experiences.
Rognli points out that it is important to provide users of various drugs more knowledge about the risks they run in terms of psychosis when they take drugs. This largely applies to using cannabis, which may not be so widely associated with a risk of induced psychosis, such as with the use of amphetamines.
- This research is important because people with concurrent substance abuse and psychosis often receive other diagnoses, and thus different treatment than those with primary psychosis diagnoses, explains the PhD student.
- We also question whether there is a scientific basis for such a sharp distinction between drug-induced and primary psychosis, which we have today.
Switching between the abstract and the concrete
Rognli believes the recipe for being a good researcher is a good combination of being willing to work hard in some periods and being able to take time off when needed. A great researcher can easily switch between abstraction and theory, and between what is concrete and what can be operationalized.
- To go from an idea down to something that can be measured. And then go from result to conceptual thinking and theory building, she explains.
- For my part, I feel that it is important to be able to structure my time well, make plans and aims, and work systematically towards these.
Cannabis a popular topic
Looking ahead, she believes there will be increased focus on both brain science and genetics into the psychosis field.
- In addition, I am guessing that we will see many more studies on cannabis and psychosis. Cannabis is such a popular topic right now because of the political processes.
She feels lucky to have a supervisor with a lot of ideas and a vast network on this topic. This was one of the reasons that she could change the nature of her thesis from PRISM to the use of multiple data materials in psychosis research.
- It is very exciting to be able to include three different data materials to investigate the same topic! But then, almost everything becomes interesting when one immerses oneself in it, she says.