In this dissertation the literature on suicidal behaviour is reviewed, with particular emphasis on professional conceptualizations and understanding as informed by the psychiatric and sociological paradigms. Basic postulates of the Ecosystemic paradigm, as it is informed by Maturana's second-order cybernetic approach was discussed. The effect of such an approach on therapy with suicidal individuals was pointed out. It became clear that perceived methodological problems experienced when researching suicidal behaviour from a Newtonian/realist paradigm can be side-stepped when viewed from an Ecosystemic paradigm. It was finally proposed that an ethic of participation, as informed by a second-order cybernetic approach, be adopted when viewing the suicide situation. In the process ethics was reconceptualized as an awareness of the therapist's participation in whatever is created, and not in finding the ''right" way when working with suicidal individuals. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Substance abuse and suicidal behaviour are major challenges to public health. These phenomena are mainly studied by quantitative designs. This qualitative thesis aims at gaining a deeper understanding of substance abuse and suicidal behaviour, as experienced by young men in different types of treatment. By describing, exploring and interpreting lived experiences, in this thesis I try to give a more nuanced language of both substance abuse and suicidal behaviour, also in young migrating men. I also focus on the system of services related to the prevention and follow-up of life-threatening overdoses by describing and exploring how this phenomenon is experienced by individuals and professionals in Oslo. By researching the lived experiences of substance abuse and suicidal behaviour, combined with researching the phenomenon of life-threatening overdoses, a deeper insight is gained and this can be an important source to both prevention and health promotion for the group in question. The first three papers are based on descriptive, explorative and interpretative studies. How meaning is constructed is the core research question. In the fourth study I describe and explore life-threatening overdoses as a contemporary phenomenon in its context. The research questions are on a descriptive level. In the first three papers, the research object is the personal narratives from in-depth interviews, which are analysed using a phenomenological hermeneutic method. The case study is composed of data collected from different sources, and analysed by triangulation. The main finding in the first paper is that substance abuse and suicidal behaviour can be understood as goal-oriented, communicative and meaning-making activities about the individuals’ balance between death as an escape from pain and the hope of a life. In the second study, metaphorical expressions about a shifting sense of self is understood as balancing being an agent or a victim. In migrating young men these phenomena are interpreted as goal-oriented, communicative and meanig-making activities about existing in a maze that is perceived as closed. The findings of the case study show that different forms of life-threatening overdoses in Oslo are experienced in a state of existential and material stress. A wish of follow-up might not be expressed by the individual. Due to structural problems, such as lack of goals, professionals do not prevent such events in a planned way, nor do they cooperate between different levels. Professionals decide what is good quality in prevention and follow-up of life-threatening overdoses / Rusavhengighet og selvmordsadferd representerer store folkehelseproblemer. Disse fenomenene er hovedsakelig studert med kvantitative design. Målet med denne kvalitative avhandlingen er å få dypere kunnskap om rusavhengighet og selvmordsadferd slik fenomenene er opplevd av yngre menn i ulike typer behandling. Gjennom å beskrive, undersøke og tolke levde opplevelser forsøker avhandlingen å få fram en mer nyansert forståelse av, og språk om, både rusavhengighet og selvmordsadferd, også hos yngre menn med migrasjonserfaring. Avhandlingen fokuserer systemnivået gjennom å beskrive og undersøke hvordan livstruende overdoser oppleves og erfares som levde erfaringer og som yrkesutfordring i Oslo. Et omverdensperspektiv, kombinert med en dypere forståelse og et rikere språk kan være viktige bidrag til forebyggende og helsefremmende tiltak. Det første, andre og tredje arbeidet i avhandlingen er beskrivende, undersøkende og tolkende studier som fokuser yngre menns levde erfaringer med rusavhengighet og selvmordsadferd. Hvordan mening konstrueres er det sentrale forskningsspørsmålet. Det fjerde arbeidet, case studien, undersøker livstruende overdoser i en nå-tidig kontekst, og forskningsspørsmålene er beskrivende. I de første tre arbeidene er forskningsobjektet personlige narrativer samlet gjennom åpne dybdeintervjuer, og som er tolket ved bruk av en fenomenologisk hermeneutisk analyse. I case studien er data fra ulike kilder analysert ved hjelp av triangulering. Hovedfunnet i den første studien er at rusavhengighet og selvmordsadferd kan forstås som måltettede, kommunikative og meningsfulle handlinger om personens balanse mellom døden som befrielse fra smerte og håpet om et bedre liv. I den andre studien kommer metaforiske beskrivelser av en skiftende opplevelse av seg selv i prosessene knyttet til både rusavhengighet og selvmordsadferd tydelig fram. Dette kan forstås som å balansere en selvopplevelse mellom aktør og offer. I den tredje studien kan rusavhengighet og selvmordsadferd hos migrerte menn forstås som målrettede, kommunikative og meningsfulle handlinger om personens opplevelse av å eksistere i en stengt labyrint. Funnene i case studien tyder på at livstruende overdoser i Oslo erfares i eksistensielt stressfulle omstendigheter. Et personlig ønske om oppfølging gis ikke alltid eksplisitt. Strukturelle problemer medfører at profesjonelle arbeider med livstruende overdoser uten overordnete mål og uten samordnet planlegging. Profesjonelle bestemmer derfor selv hva som er god kvalitet når det gjelder forebygging og oppfølging av livstruende overdoser

For more than half a decade, lithium has been successfully used to treat bipolar disorder. Worldwide, it is considered the first-line mood stabilizer. Apart from its proven antimanic and prophylactic effects, considerable evidence also suggests an antisuicidal effect in affective disorders. Lithium is also effectively used to augment antidepressant drugs in the treatment of refractory major depressive episodes and prevent relapses in recurrent unipolar depression. In contrast to many psychiatric drugs, lithium has outlasted various pharmacotherapeutic ‘fashions’, and remains an indispensable element in contemporary psychopharmacology. Nevertheless, data from pharmacogenetic studies of lithium are comparatively sparse, and these studies are generally characterized by small sample sizes and varying definitions of response. Here, we present an international effort to elucidate the genetic underpinnings of lithium response in bipolar disorder. Following an initiative by the International Group for the Study of Lithium-Treated Patients (www.IGSLI.org) and the Unit on the Genetic Basis of Mood and Anxiety Disorders at the National Institute of Mental Health,lithium researchers from around the world have formed the Consortium on Lithium Genetics (www.ConLiGen.org) to establish the largest sample to date for genome-wide studies of lithium response in bipolar disorder, currently comprising more than 1,200 patients characterized for response to lithium treatment. A stringent phenotype definition of response is one of the hallmarks of this collaboration. ConLiGen invites all lithium researchers to join its efforts. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

In this dissertation the literature on suicidal behaviour is reviewed, with particular emphasis on professional conceptualizations and understanding as informed by the psychiatric and sociological paradigms. Basic postulates of the Ecosystemic paradigm, as it is informed by Maturana's second-order cybernetic approach was discussed. The effect of such an approach on therapy with suicidal individuals was pointed out. It became clear that perceived methodological problems experienced when researching suicidal behaviour from a Newtonian/realist paradigm can be side-stepped when viewed from an Ecosystemic paradigm. It was finally proposed that an ethic of participation, as informed by a second-order cybernetic approach, be adopted when viewing the suicide situation. In the process ethics was reconceptualized as an awareness of the therapist's participation in whatever is created, and not in finding the ''right" way when working with suicidal individuals. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

For more than half a decade, lithium has been successfully used to treat bipolar disorder. Worldwide, it is considered the first-line mood stabilizer. Apart from its proven antimanic and prophylactic effects, considerable evidence also suggests an antisuicidal effect in affective disorders. Lithium is also effectively used to augment antidepressant drugs in the treatment of refractory major depressive episodes and prevent relapses in recurrent unipolar depression. In contrast to many psychiatric drugs, lithium has outlasted various pharmacotherapeutic ‘fashions’, and remains an indispensable element in contemporary psychopharmacology. Nevertheless, data from pharmacogenetic studies of lithium are comparatively sparse, and these studies are generally characterized by small sample sizes and varying definitions of response. Here, we present an international effort to elucidate the genetic underpinnings of lithium response in bipolar disorder. Following an initiative by the International Group for the Study of Lithium-Treated Patients (www.IGSLI.org) and the Unit on the Genetic Basis of Mood and Anxiety Disorders at the National Institute of Mental Health,lithium researchers from around the world have formed the Consortium on Lithium Genetics (www.ConLiGen.org) to establish the largest sample to date for genome-wide studies of lithium response in bipolar disorder, currently comprising more than 1,200 patients characterized for response to lithium treatment. A stringent phenotype definition of response is one of the hallmarks of this collaboration. ConLiGen invites all lithium researchers to join its efforts. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.