Arvid Nikolai Kildahl is a PhD candidate at the Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, and is employed at Oslo University Hospital, where he works within two national competence units: the Norwegian Centre of Competence for Intellectual Disabilities and Mental Health (NevSom) and the Norwegian Centre of Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Hypersomnias. He splits his time as both a researcher and a clinician, working 50% at the outpatient clinic for mental health and autism/intellectual disabilities at Oslo University Hospital. His research focuses on detecting and understanding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma-related symptoms in adults with co-occurring autism and intellectual disabilities, particularly when verbal disclosure is limited. Arvid holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Oslo (2009) and is a certified Specialist Psychologist in Clinical Psychology (2014). His academic interests center on mental health in individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities, emphasizing assessment and treatment challenges. He investigates how clinicians' understanding is shaped by patient interactions and explores biases in diagnosing co-occurring mental disorders. His recent publications (2023–2025) span trauma assessment, psychopathology in autism, mental health services adaptation, and diagnostic tool validation for individuals with intellectual disabilities. He frequently collaborates with researchers like Sissel Berge Helverschou and Hanne Weie Oddli on topics such as PTSD identification, schizophrenia in autism, and trauma-informed care approaches. Arvid’s work addresses critical gaps in clinical practice, including the need for non-verbal trauma detection methods, improved inpatient care environments, and standardized assessment tools tailored for neurodiverse populations. His projects are funded by Oslo University Hospital and aim to bridge research and clinical application in mental health services for vulnerable groups.
