SørFRA
SørFRA is Sørlandet Hospital’s research group focusing on substance use and addiction issues. Here you will find news about research and professional development at the Department of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment (ARA), as well as an overview of our projects and publications, including those by participants in SørFRA.
- 12-step-based treatment and self-help groups
- Children, families and next of kin of people with substance use disorders
- We also get involved in individual projects at the request of our organization and in projects where external funding is available
- Jobling, N., Mjåland, K., Clausen, T.et al. Medication transitions and predictors of illicit substance use during opioid agonist treatment: a three-year follow-up study. Addict Sci Clin Pract 21, 61 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-026-00711-0
- Haugjord, K., Vederhus, J. K., Ness, O., & Dahl, K. (2026).Next of kin’s experiences of healthcare encounters in the context of severe self-harm: “We know them best.” International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2026.2712680
- Birkeland B, Vederhus JK, Selbekk AS, Laslett AM, Wilson IM, Haugland SH.Violence exposure and quality of life among partners and parents of individuals with substance use problems.Frontiers Public Health.
- Hørte, C., Vederhus, JK., Strømland, M.et al. Adult support and its role in the association between childhood adversity and quality of life in a population-based study.Discov Public Health 23, 1310 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-026-02634-2
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Romedal S, Selbekk AS, Haugland SH, Vederhus J-K, Birkeland B.Designing their Own Story: A Meta-Ethnography of Health Promotion Among Adolescents with Parental Substance Use Problems. Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. 2026;43(3):235-260.
- Grimsland F, Gabrielsen KB, Clausen T, Haugland S, Vederhus JK.Child maltreatment and substance use: associations with alcohol use, nicotine use, and quality of life in a Norwegian population sample.Front. Public Health 14:1821179.
- Hørte C, Vederhus JK, Abildsnes E.Youth Impacted by a Family Member’s Substance Use: A Qualitative Exploration of Life Course Experiences and Coping. Journ Child Adol Trauma(2026).
- Øgård-Repål A, Haugland SH, Vederhus J-K, Robstad AN and Stea TH (2026)Exploring sleep-related problems among concerned others of individuals with mental health problems and/or problematic substance use: a cross-sectional study.Front. Public Health 14:1703652. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1703652
- Friesinger JG, von Heimburg D, Ness O, Haugland SH, Vederhus JK.Discrimination experiences and their associations with sociodemographic factors, health and quality of life—a latent class analysis. Health Qual Life Outcomes(2026).
- Hørte C, Vederhus JK, Abildsnes E. Problematic substance use in the family: professionals’ and adolescents’ perspectives on identification and help. A qualitative study.Scandinavian Journal of Public Health
- Danielsen KK, Haugjord K, Beckmann KF, Haugland V & Sveaas SH.Drop-in Coping Skills: a qualitative study of users’ and staff members’ experiences.Psykologtidsskriftet, 2025. https://doi.org/10.52734/IMDC9544
- Redondo CL, Weimand B, Benth JS, Vederhus JK, Mordal J, Enger A, Tanum L, Solli KK. Changes in quality of life during 52 weeks of extended-release naltrexone treatment, followed by a 1-year post-treatment period. Drug and Alcohol Dependencehttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112917
- Friesinger JG, Haugland SH, von Heimburg D, Ness O, Vederhus JK. Associations between perceived discrimination and health: a cross-sectional public health study.BMC Public Health 25, 2601 (2025).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23888-6
- Mordal J, Juya F, Holtan L, Vederhus JK, Opheim A, Brenna IH et al. High induction rate onto extended-release naltrexone for people with opioid use disorder: experiences from a Norwegian naturalistic study. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 2025: vol. 20, 50;https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-025-00576-9
- Haugland SH, Gallefoss L, Hals-Lydersen A, Vederhus JK. Parental Alcohol Problems and Lack of Adult Support During Childhood—Consequences for Subjective and Objective Social Connection in Adulthood. 2025.https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.14070
- Vederhus JK, Haugland SH (2025). Difficult childhood experiences leave their mark. In A. J. W. Andersen & S. H. Haugland (Eds.), Perspectives on psychosocial health (pp. 107–124). Fagbokforlaget. DOI:https://doi.org/10.55669/oa550206
- Schrøder SK, Vederhus JK. (2025). Balancing act – when user knowledge is part of teaching. In A. J. W. Andersen & S. H. Haugland (Eds.), Perspectives on psychosocial health (pp. 289–304). Fagbokforlaget. DOI:https://doi.org/10.55669/oa550217
- Vederhus JK, Timko C, Haugland SH, Friesinger JG. Assessing Place Attachment by Immigrant Status: Validation of a Short Measure for Multidisciplinary Research. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology;2025; 35:e70096
- Ordahl MØ, Vederhus JK, Birkeland B.Exploring the mentoring scheme at a municipal, long-term rehabilitation service for people with substance dependence – a qualitative study.Nordic Journal of Wellbeing and Sustainable Welfare Development, 2024: 3(3), 179 – 194.
- Vederhus JK, Timko C, Birkeland B, Haugland SH, Gabrielsen KB.Validation of an ultra-short global quality of life scale in a large population-based health survey.PLoS One 2024 19 (8), e0307539.
- Bjørnestad ED, Vederhus JK, Clausen T.Change in substance use among patients in opioid maintenance treatment: baseline to 1-year follow-up. Harm Reduction Journal2024 (21), 101.
- Bjørnestad ED, Vederhus JK, Clausen T.Change in self-reported somatic symptoms among patients in opioid maintenance treatment from baseline to 1-year follow-up. BMC Psychiatry2024 (24): 149.
- Gabrielsen KB, Clausen T, Haugland SH, Vederhus JK.Gradual improvement in functioning and mental distress during long-term outpatient SUD treatment – A prospective pre-post study.Addictive Behaviors Reports. 2024, 19, 100525
- Weimand BM, Karlsson AT, Solli KK, Vederhus JK, Mordal J, Digranes L, Tanum L (2023). Characteristics of opioid-dependent patients choosing antagonist treatment with extended-release naltrexone compared with patients in opioid maintenance treatment in Norway.Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems. ISSN: 1592-1638. 25 (4). pp. 5–14.
- Jobling N, Mjåland K, Birkeland B. Prison nurses’ experiences of collaborating with specialist health services and general practitioners on medication-assisted rehabilitation (MAR).Sykepleien Forskning. 2023; 18(91849):e-91849.DOI: 10.4220/Sykepleienf.2023.91849
- Bjørnestad ED, Vederhus JK, Clausen T. High smoking and low cessation rates among patients in treatment for opioid and other substance use disorders.BMC Psychiatry,2022, 22; 649.
- Friesinger JG, Haugland SH, Vederhus JK.The significance of the social and material environment to place attachment and quality of life: findings from a large population-based health survey. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.2022: 20;135.
- Karlsson AT, Vederhus JK, Clausen T, Weimand B, Solli KK, Tanum L.Impact of Impulsivity, Hyperactivity, and Inattention on Discontinuation Rate among Opioid-Dependent Patients Treated with Extended-Release Naltrexone. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health2022,19(18), 11435.
- Gallefoss LJ, Gabrielsen KB, Haugland SH, Clausen T, Vederhus JK.Effects of a brief pre-admission telephone reminder on no-show and dropout rates in substance use disorder treatment: a quasi-experimental study. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy. 2022: 17; 61.
- Vederhus JK, Rørendal M, Skårdal M, Næss MO, Clausen T, Kristensen Ø.Successful outcomes with low-threshold intervention for cannabis use disorders in Norway – an observational study.PLoS One. 2022;17(6):e0269988.
- Gabrielsen KB, Clausen T, Haugland SH, Hollup SA, Vederhus JK.Infralow neurofeedback in the treatment of substance use disorders: a randomized controlled trial.J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2022, 47(3):E222-E229.
- Vederhus JK, Haugland SH, Timko C. (2022).A mediational analysis of adverse experiences in childhood and quality of life in adulthood. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, e1904.
- Karlsson AT, Vederhus JK, Clausen T, Weimand B, Solli KK, Tanum L. Levels of Impulsivity, Hyperactivity, and Inattention and the Association with Mental Health and Substance Use Severity in Opioid-Dependent Patients Seeking Treatment with Extended-Release Naltrexone.J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10(19), 4558;https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10194558
- Birkeland B, Weimand B, Ruud T, Maybery D, Vederhus JK.Perceived family cohesion, social support, and quality of life in patients undergoing treatment for substance use disorders compared with patients with mental and physical disorders. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice;2021: 16, 44.
- Haugland SH, Carvalho B, Stea TH, Strandheim A, Vederhus JK.Associations between parental alcohol problems in childhood and adversities during childhood and later adulthood: a cross-sectional study of 28047 adults from the general population. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy;2021:16, 47
- Vederhus JK, Timko C, Haugland, SH.Adverse childhood experiences and impact on quality of life in adulthood – development and validation of a short difficult childhood questionnaire in a large population-based health survey. QoL Life Res. 2021;30, 1769–1778. Doi: 10.1007/s11136-021-02761-0.
• Relatives of people with substance dependence. What benefits do relatives gain from participating in a psychoeducational “family week” at the same time as the person with substance dependence is receiving treatment? Data collection took place from 2016–2018. Qualitative data were also collected from young people who participated in the family week. The PhD candidate is Cathrine Hørte, 2021–2025.
• Relatives of patients who self-harm: Improving life conditions for close relatives of patients with severe self-harming behavior: from despair to coping and quality of life. The studies are being conducted in collaboration with DPS Østre Agder. The PhD candidate is Kenneth Haugjord, 2023–2026.
• Long-term treatment with injectable buprenorphine for patients with opioid dependence – patients’ views on this treatment over an extended period [Long-acting injectable Buprenorphine treatment of patients with opioid use disorder – long-term outcomes]. The PhD candidate is Nina Jobling, 2024–2027
Other projects affiliated with the research group
• Agder Public Health Survey (in collaboration with UiA)
• SSB Quality of Life Survey (in collaboration with UiA)
- Group leader: John-Kåre Vederhus (Professor II)
- Karin Berle Gabrielsen (PhD)
- Endre Dahlen Bjørnestad (PhD candidate)
- Cathrine Hørte (PhD candidate)
- Frode Nordhelle (MSc)
- Nina Jobling (PhD candidate)
- Karin Berle Gabrielsen (PhD)
- Endre Dahlen Bjørnestad (PhD candidate)
- Cathrine Hørte (PhD candidate)
- Frode Nordhelle (MSc)
- Nina Jobling (PhD candidate)
- Kenneth Haugjord (PhD candidate, DPS Østre Agder/ARA)
- Thomas Clausen, Professor, SERAF, UiO. Research supervisor
- Thomas Clausen, Professor, SERAF, UiO. Research supervisor
- Ellen Ånestad Moen (PhD) - DPS Solvang
- Magnus Brodwall - DPS Solvang
Senior researcher and Professor II: John-Kåre Vederhus
Last updated 12.11.2025