Joar Øveraas Halvorsen
@joarhalvorsen.bsky.social
Consultant clinical psychologist & associate professor of clinical psychology. Mainly #ClinicalTrials, (post)traumatic stress, #PsychotherapyResearch, & #HumanRights. May contain traces of sarcasm.
Reposted by Joar Øveraas Halvorsen
Good question. SWD and MIC (MID or MCID) are *completely* different. SWD is a between-group difference, typically between treatment and control, and in balance with the downsides of the treatment. MIC is a within-group pre-post change, typically in the absence of significant treatment burdens.
Is there a difference between smallest worthwhile difference (SWD) and minimum clinically important difference (MCID)?
November 11, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Good question. SWD and MIC (MID or MCID) are *completely* different. SWD is a between-group difference, typically between treatment and control, and in balance with the downsides of the treatment. MIC is a within-group pre-post change, typically in the absence of significant treatment burdens.
Reposted by Joar Øveraas Halvorsen
The SWD (smallest worthwhile difference) for psychotherapies for depression was just about the same as that for antidepressants and only one in three people would be happy to initiate psychotherapies. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Estimating the smallest worthwhile difference of recommended psychotherapies for depression: observational study | The British Journal of Psychiatry | Cambridge Core
Estimating the smallest worthwhile difference of recommended psychotherapies for depression: observational study
www.cambridge.org
November 11, 2025 at 2:29 AM
The SWD (smallest worthwhile difference) for psychotherapies for depression was just about the same as that for antidepressants and only one in three people would be happy to initiate psychotherapies. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Selv om vi kanskje ikke burde forby bruk av medisiner utenfor indikasjon, så burde vi ihvertfall ha vesentlig strengere, mer medisinsk konservative retningslinjer for å foreskrive medisiner utenfor indikasjon. www.nrk.no/trondelag/le...
Brukes som søvnmedisin: Flere unge innlagt etter overdoser
www.nrk.no
November 10, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Selv om vi kanskje ikke burde forby bruk av medisiner utenfor indikasjon, så burde vi ihvertfall ha vesentlig strengere, mer medisinsk konservative retningslinjer for å foreskrive medisiner utenfor indikasjon. www.nrk.no/trondelag/le...
Dette burde barselomsorgen i Norge merke seg.
New Canadian Guidelines Strongly Recommend Against Depression Screening
Screening for depression in primary care lacks benefits and may cause harm, according to the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.
By Peter Simons
www.madinamerica.com/2025/11/new-...
Screening for depression in primary care lacks benefits and may cause harm, according to the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.
By Peter Simons
www.madinamerica.com/2025/11/new-...
New Canadian Guidelines Strongly Recommend Against Depression Screening
Screening for depression in primary care lacks benefits and may cause harm, according to the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.
www.madinamerica.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Dette burde barselomsorgen i Norge merke seg.
Hellestveit viser moralsk ryggrad.
www.aftenposten.no/norge/i/bm9o...
www.aftenposten.no/norge/i/bm9o...
Ferdig i Etikkrådet
Cecilie Hellestveit begrunner hvorfor hun går av.
www.aftenposten.no
November 10, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Hellestveit viser moralsk ryggrad.
www.aftenposten.no/norge/i/bm9o...
www.aftenposten.no/norge/i/bm9o...
Reposted by Joar Øveraas Halvorsen
Just submitted a review where I ended with my traditional "I hope the authors find my comments useful" where the unwritten implication is "once they stop being annoyed at me that I pointed out the data they collected does not allow the conclusions they wish to draw."
So, you know, the usual
So, you know, the usual
November 10, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Just submitted a review where I ended with my traditional "I hope the authors find my comments useful" where the unwritten implication is "once they stop being annoyed at me that I pointed out the data they collected does not allow the conclusions they wish to draw."
So, you know, the usual
So, you know, the usual
Nok et eksempel på at den israelske regjeringen jobber hardt med å tømme begrepet antisemittisme for meningsfullt innhold.
November 9, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Nok et eksempel på at den israelske regjeringen jobber hardt med å tømme begrepet antisemittisme for meningsfullt innhold.
Reposted by Joar Øveraas Halvorsen
Det finnes ikke et enkelt «ja» eller «nei» svar på om vi skal bruke mer ressurser på psykisk helse. Svaret kommer an på (a) *hva vi får igjen* for de ressursene vi bruker på psykisk helse, og (b) hvilke andre ting/områder vi kunne brukt ressursene på og hva vi ville fått igjen for dette.
November 8, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Det finnes ikke et enkelt «ja» eller «nei» svar på om vi skal bruke mer ressurser på psykisk helse. Svaret kommer an på (a) *hva vi får igjen* for de ressursene vi bruker på psykisk helse, og (b) hvilke andre ting/områder vi kunne brukt ressursene på og hva vi ville fått igjen for dette.
Although I applaud these efforts, it would be quite a paradoxical situation if we regulate LLM therapy chatbots all the while in-person psychotherapy is largely completely unregulated.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/f...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/f...
FDA digital advisers confront risks of therapy chatbots, weigh possible regulation
FDA's digital advisors could nudge the agency to clarify how its rules apply to medical applications of generative AI, including therapy chatbots.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Although I applaud these efforts, it would be quite a paradoxical situation if we regulate LLM therapy chatbots all the while in-person psychotherapy is largely completely unregulated.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/f...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/f...
Men Ervin Kohn *er* jo en ekstrem stemme.
November 6, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Men Ervin Kohn *er* jo en ekstrem stemme.
Have you earned a M.D. lately, @ploederl.bsky.social? 😅
November 5, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Have you earned a M.D. lately, @ploederl.bsky.social? 😅
Reposted by Joar Øveraas Halvorsen
When will psychedelic advocates who come from the “patients side” begin to understand that rules and regulations exist in healthcare for very good reasons, and, most importantly, to avoid engaging in conspiracy theories about the lack of progress with their cause?
November 5, 2025 at 6:30 PM
When will psychedelic advocates who come from the “patients side” begin to understand that rules and regulations exist in healthcare for very good reasons, and, most importantly, to avoid engaging in conspiracy theories about the lack of progress with their cause?
Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy™ for PTSD. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... Are you kidding me? Is "ketamine-assisted EMDR therapy" trademarked? Good grief. 😳😂
Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy™ for PTSD: investigating the synergistic effects of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy
Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with maladaptive memory reconsolidation and overgeneralized fear responses. EMDR therapy promotes trauma reprocessing by activating th...
www.tandfonline.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy™ for PTSD. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... Are you kidding me? Is "ketamine-assisted EMDR therapy" trademarked? Good grief. 😳😂
Reposted by Joar Øveraas Halvorsen
Zohran Mamdani støtter demokrati, skeives rettigheter og religionsfrihet. Han har en kone uten hijab men med en egen karriere.
Han er muslimen som *kremt* "islamkritikerne" sier at de ønsker seg.
Men de hater ham likevel.
Rart det der.
Han er muslimen som *kremt* "islamkritikerne" sier at de ønsker seg.
Men de hater ham likevel.
Rart det der.
November 5, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Zohran Mamdani støtter demokrati, skeives rettigheter og religionsfrihet. Han har en kone uten hijab men med en egen karriere.
Han er muslimen som *kremt* "islamkritikerne" sier at de ønsker seg.
Men de hater ham likevel.
Rart det der.
Han er muslimen som *kremt* "islamkritikerne" sier at de ønsker seg.
Men de hater ham likevel.
Rart det der.
Jeg kan bekrefte at brukervennligheten til Helseplattformen er elendig. Men journalsystemet har samtidig andre, gode funksjoner. Selv om jeg til stadighet river meg i håret over den elendige brukervennligheten, har jeg enda ikke vurdert å si opp jobben.
www.aftenposten.no/norge/i/zAdm...
www.aftenposten.no/norge/i/zAdm...
Ny undersøkelse: Leger slakter brukervennligheten i journalsystemene
For lege Berit Grandaunet har problemene vært så store at hun sier opp jobben ved St. Olavs hospital.
www.aftenposten.no
November 4, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Jeg kan bekrefte at brukervennligheten til Helseplattformen er elendig. Men journalsystemet har samtidig andre, gode funksjoner. Selv om jeg til stadighet river meg i håret over den elendige brukervennligheten, har jeg enda ikke vurdert å si opp jobben.
www.aftenposten.no/norge/i/zAdm...
www.aftenposten.no/norge/i/zAdm...
Reposted by Joar Øveraas Halvorsen
It perplexes me why those who make med claims for psychedelics sometimes object to holding them to the same standard as other drugs. The unmet need is great but that's true for many diseases. Still impt to prove safety+effectiveness. (Largely agree w/ this piece)
www.statnews.com/2025/10/30/f...
www.statnews.com/2025/10/30/f...
FDA criticism of MDMA-assisted therapy is an opportunity for psychedelic medicine
“The Lykos CRL doesn’t close the door to psychedelic medicine. It shows us what needs to improve.”
www.statnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:57 AM
It perplexes me why those who make med claims for psychedelics sometimes object to holding them to the same standard as other drugs. The unmet need is great but that's true for many diseases. Still impt to prove safety+effectiveness. (Largely agree w/ this piece)
www.statnews.com/2025/10/30/f...
www.statnews.com/2025/10/30/f...
Reposted by Joar Øveraas Halvorsen
Detection for fabricated or unlikely data in RCT's should be mandatory for HTA-units as well 👇
i agree. Problem is that peer review is not geared up for detection of fabricated data. Sadly I think we need to be more alert to this. Inclusion of raw data v helpful in this case - and the discrepancies in age hit you as soon as you open the file. But deposited data should be .csv! @bmj.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Detection for fabricated or unlikely data in RCT's should be mandatory for HTA-units as well 👇
Reposted by Joar Øveraas Halvorsen
Reposted by Joar Øveraas Halvorsen
Is there something about psychology that makes it so uniquely susceptible to weird damaging scams? It's like that period of medicine where people were drinking radium but it never seems to get any more sensible.
www.thecut.com/article/trut...
www.thecut.com/article/trut...
The Truth About IFS, the Therapy That Can Break You
Internal Family Systems is a widely popular trauma treatment. Some patients say it’s destroyed their lives.
www.thecut.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Is there something about psychology that makes it so uniquely susceptible to weird damaging scams? It's like that period of medicine where people were drinking radium but it never seems to get any more sensible.
www.thecut.com/article/trut...
www.thecut.com/article/trut...
The mental health field is packed with pseudoscience and unsupported treatments. Exhibit XXXX. www.thecut.com/article/trut... @jonathanstea.bsky.social
The Truth About IFS, the Therapy That Can Break You
Internal Family Systems is a widely popular trauma treatment. Some patients say it’s destroyed their lives.
www.thecut.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:44 PM
The mental health field is packed with pseudoscience and unsupported treatments. Exhibit XXXX. www.thecut.com/article/trut... @jonathanstea.bsky.social
Reposted by Joar Øveraas Halvorsen
Does changing the therapist and/or method after non-response lead to better outcomes? Not according to this RCT.
A randomized controlled trial testing the effects of sequential psychotherapy in depression: Changing therapist, or both therapist and method?
This study examined the effectiveness of sequential psychotherapy strategies for adults with major depressive disorder who did not respond to an initi…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Does changing the therapist and/or method after non-response lead to better outcomes? Not according to this RCT.
For en patetisk opptreden av Pollestad fra Senterpartiet. Vi burde heller legge ned Senterpartiet enn Faktisk.no. #dax18
forsiden - faktisk
Faktisk.no
October 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
For en patetisk opptreden av Pollestad fra Senterpartiet. Vi burde heller legge ned Senterpartiet enn Faktisk.no. #dax18
Another trial, this time a 'regular' RCT, comparing the efficacy of exposure therapy based on the principles of inhibitory retrieval vs. habituation, indicating no significant difference for primary outcome. psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-...
October 27, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Another trial, this time a 'regular' RCT, comparing the efficacy of exposure therapy based on the principles of inhibitory retrieval vs. habituation, indicating no significant difference for primary outcome. psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-...