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Lars Lien is an academic adviser to Axon Research Foundation. He is a professor of psychiatry at Inland Norway University, where he leads the Trauma Research Group.

Lien is a specialist in psychiatry and public health and completed his doctorate in 2006. He previously led the Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Concurrent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders (NKROP), and has served as president of the Norwegian Psychiatric Association and as a board member of the European Psychiatric Association.

His research ranges from trauma and youth mental health to the use of virtual reality in treatment, and he has contributed to The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on mental health in Ukraine. As academic adviser he supports the foundation’s work on research and methodology.

Selected publications

  1. Transforming treatment-resistant depression care in Norway: Public health reimbursement for off-label intravenous ketamine

    Stewart LH, Berthold-Losleben M, Kvam TM, Lien L, Andreassen OA, Clausen I

    Drug Science, Policy and Law, 2026Commentary

  2. Risk of Suicide in Patients With Traumatic Injuries

    Rasmussen A, Nordseth T, Stenehjem JS, Gran JM, Lien L, Rosseland LA

    JAMA Network Open, 2026Peer-reviewed

  3. Combined Treatment of PTSD and Emotional Dysregulation among Inpatients with Substance Use Disorder: A Feasibility Study

    Vigfusdottir J, Breivik E, Mork E, Lien L, Stenmark H, Jonsbu E

    International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 2026Peer-reviewed

  4. Ketamin som offentlig behandlingstilbud i psykiatrien

    Lien L, Clausen I

    Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening, 2025Commentary

  5. Difficulties in emotion regulation among patients with substance use disorder and a history of exposure to traumatic events: the role of PTSD symptoms, emotional avoidance, shame, and guilt

    Vigfusdottir J, Breivik E, Henden BO, Jonsbu E, Lien L, Stenmark H, Mork E

    European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 2025Peer-reviewed

  6. The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on mental health in Ukraine

    Pinchuk I, Leventhal BL, Ladyk-Bryzghalova A, Lien L, Yachnik Y, Casanova Dias M, et al.

    The Lancet Psychiatry, 2024Peer-reviewed

  7. The impact of PTSD on risk of cardiometabolic diseases: a national patient cohort study in Norway

    Roer GE, Lien L, Bolstad I, Aaseth JO, Abebe DS

    BMC Psychiatry, 2023Peer-reviewed

  8. Comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder in alcohol use disorder: relationships to demography, drinking and neuroimmune profile

    Neupane SP, Bramness JG, Lien L

    BMC Psychiatry, 2017Peer-reviewed

  9. Mental health problems and post-migration stress among multi-traumatized refugees attending outpatient clinics upon resettlement to Norway

    Teodorescu DS, Heir T, Hauff E, Wentzel-Larsen T, Lien L

    Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 2012Peer-reviewed