معرفی
Lars Christian Kvalbein-Olsen serves as a Doctoral Research Fellow (Research Fellow) in the Department of General Medicine at the University of Oslo's Faculty of Medicine. He holds a 50% PhD candidate position funded by AMFF, combining academic work with part-time general practice in Arendal since 2013. His institutional affiliations include the Clinical General Practice Research (Allmix) and General Practice Health Services Research (ALHF) groups, with additional ties to the National Research School in General Practice (Class 2019).
His research program centers on three interconnected studies addressing depression in elderly primary care patients: (1) prevalence and recognition of depressive disorders during GP consultations; (2) efficacy testing of a structured GP-geriatric psychiatrist collaboration model featuring joint appointments; and (3) qualitative analysis of healthcare professionals' experiences with this collaborative framework. This work bridges clinical psychiatry and primary care through innovative service delivery models.
Kvalbein-Olsen's sole publication to date—a 2022 cross-sectional study in the British Journal of General Practice Open—reveals significant under-recognition of depression among Norwegian elderly patients. The research demonstrates his methodological focus on real-world clinical settings and population-specific mental health interventions, establishing foundational work for his ongoing PhD project.
Supported by AFU pilot funding and AMFF doctoral grants, he actively contributes to mental health service development within primary care. His clinical-academic integration is exemplified through the National Research School in General Practice and dual membership in Oslo's clinical and health services research groups.
Balancing research with clinical duties, Kvalbein-Olsen maintains a practice in Arendal while conducting fieldwork at Fredrik Holsts hus (Kirkeveien 166). His personal commitment to geriatric mental health is underscored by his psychiatric specialization completed in 2016 after hospital psychiatric department training in Arendal.
