Public Defence: Ann Tarja Karlsson

Cand.psychol. Ann Tarja Karlsson at Institute of Clinical Medicine will be defending the thesis “Extended-release Naltrexone in the treatment of opioid dependence – Mental health burden and the role of impulsivity, hyperactivity and inattention.” for the degree of PhD (Philosophiae Doctor).

Due to copyright issues, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. For the faculty to have time to process the order, the order must be received by the faculty at the latest 2 days before the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. After the public defence, please address any inquiries regarding the thesis to the candidate.

Trial Lecture – time and place

See Trial Lecture.

Adjudication committee

  • First opponent: Professor Joshua Lee, New York University,
  • Second opponent: Senior Researcher Anne Line Bretteville-Jensen, Folkehelseinstituttet,
  • Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Associate Professor Elfrida Hartveit Kvarstein, University of Oslo

Chair of the Defence

Professor Olav Dalgard, University of Oslo

Principal Supervisor

Professor Lars Håkon Tanum, Akershus University Hospital

Summary

Within the field of addiction medicine, Ann Tarja Karlsson wrote her doctoral thesis about the use of Extended-Release Naltrexone (XR-NTX) in the treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), focusing on how associated mental health burdens and traits such as impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention influence treatment outcomes.

Utilizing data from a naturalistic multicenter study in Norway, the research contributes to understanding the characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients seeking XR-NTX. The research includes a cohort of 162 patients treated with XR-NTX, and in one of the studies, a comparison group is used to contextualize the findings.

Despite a high dropout rate observed with XR-NTX treatment, the study identifies no clear predictors for early treatment discontinuation. This highlights a gap in understanding the factors influencing treatment retention and suggests further investigation of this aspect.

The thesis emphasizes the need for comprehensive assessment of mental health and behavioral characteristics in the treatment procedures, to better tailor the therapeutic approaches to individual patient profiles. The findings advocate for a treatment strategy that not only addresses the pharmacological aspects of addiction treatment, but also incorporates psychological support and social interventions to enhance treatment adherence and effectiveness.

Overall, the thesis contributes to refining treatment strategies for opioid dependence, emphasizing the importance of accommodating the diverse needs of this vulnerable patient group.

Additional information

Contact the research support staff.

Published May 23, 2024 9:20 AM - Last modified June 17, 2024 10:37 AM