Åsa Karin Hammar

Professor, Professor, PhD

Department of Biological and Medical Psychology

E-mailaasa.hammar@uib.no
Phone+47 55 58 62 12
Visitor Address
Jonas Lies vei 91

5009 Bergen
Postal Address
Postboks 7807

5020 Bergen

Longitudinal studies in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), cognitive functioning and cortisol profiles.

Hammar is head of the node Bergen Mood and Cognitive Function Group (MCF) with several doctoral candidates been working with issues dealing with major depression, cognitive functioning and longitudinal studies. Data collection has been conducted in three large main studies and Hammar is the principal investigator for all projects included in these studies.

All investigations include a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery, consisting of both experimental and standardized tests, cortisol measurements with dexamethasone, self-reports concerning cognitive functioning, quality of life, working capacity, coping strategies, ruminative style and dysfunctional attitudes. Some patients have been investigated with fMRI.

The first study is a literature of the longest follow-up studies within a group of patients who suffer from recurrent depression and examining cognitive functioning over a 10 year period.

The other main project is a longitudinal study that included patients with recurrent depression.

The third major project is one of the first worldwide to collect a patient group of first episode depressed patients and follow them over time.

Several findings are generated from these data and materials published in international journals (see publication list).

Another major project is currently collecting data from patients in remission.

Further, we are currently conducting a 5-year follow-up on the first episode patient group.

Hammar is also a partner in various projects that examine children with autism, patients with anxiety, bipolar patients receiving ECT treatment, biological markers in adolescents who survived the Utøya massacre.

Since 1997 I have been a lecturer at the Professional studies in Psychology at UiB, including both biological psychology and neuropsychological courses (including master’s and bachelor’s level), as well as several other teaching activities. I have also been lecturing in psychological courses for the Master’s training in Logopedy at UiB between 2001-2010.000

Academic article

Show author(s) (2023). Physical exercise augmented cognitive behaviour therapy for older adults with generalised anxiety disorder (PEXACOG): a feasibility study for a randomized controlled trial. BioPsychoSocial Medicine. 10 pages.
Show author(s) (2023). Neurocognitive development after pediatric brain tumor - a longitudinal, retrospective cohort study. Child Neuropsychology: A Journal of Normal and Abnormal Development in Childhood and Adolescence.
Show author(s) (2023). Neurocognitive Functioning in Patients with Painful Temporomandibular Disorders. Journal of Pain Research. 2015-2025.
Show author(s) (2023). Neurobiological mechanisms of ECT and TMS treatment in depression: study protocol of a multimodal magnetic resonance investigation. BMC Psychiatry.
Show author(s) (2023). Long-term outcomes of an internet-delivered cognitive enhancement intervention targeting residual cognitive deficits after major depressive disorder: a 2-year follow-up of an open trial. Frontiers in Psychology.
Show author(s) (2023). Inhibitory control as possible risk and/or resilience factor for the development of trauma related symptoms–a study of the Utøya terror attack survivors. Applied neuropsychology: Adult. 13 pages.
Show author(s) (2023). Improvement in self-reported cognitive functioning but not in rumination following online working memory training in a two-year follow-up study of remitted major depressive disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry.
Show author(s) (2023). Electroconvulsive therapy triggers a reversible decrease in brain N-acetylaspartate. Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Show author(s) (2022). Validity of diagnoses, treatment dates, and rating scales in the Swedish national quality register for electroconvulsive therapy. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. 96-103.
Show author(s) (2022). Towards adaptive technology in routine mental health care. Digital Health. 1-16.
Show author(s) (2022). Predictors of treatment response to an internet-delivered intervention targeting residual cognitive symptoms after major depressive disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 1-10.
Show author(s) (2022). Longitudinal relations between impaired executive function and symptoms of psychiatric disorders in childhood. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 1574-1582.
Show author(s) (2022). Developing an internet-delivered intervention targeting residual cognitive symptoms after major depressive disorder: a person-based approach. Journal of Mental Health.
Show author(s) (2022). Computerized Working Memory Training in Remission From Major Depressive Disorder: Effects on Emotional Working Memory, Processing Speed, Executive Functions, and Associations With Symptoms. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. 1-14.

Show author(s) (2021). Short and long-term effects of single and multiple sessions of electroconvulsive therapy on brain gray matter volumes. Brain Stimulation. 1330-1339.
Show author(s) (2021). Improved emotion regulation in depression following cognitive remediation: A randomized controlled trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 1-11.
Show author(s) (2021). First-Episode Patients Report Cognitive Difficulties in Executive Functioning 1 Year After Initial Episode of Major Depressive Disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 9 pages.
Show author(s) (2021). Examining the repeatable battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status validity indices in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The Clinical Neuropsychologist. 1-18.
Show author(s) (2021). Elevated body weight modulates subcortical volume change and associated clinical response following electroconvulsive therapy. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience.
Show author(s) (2021). Challenges and possible solutions in cross-disciplinary and cross-sectorial research teams within the domain of e-mental health. Journal of Enabling Technologies (JET). 241-251.
Show author(s) (2021). An open pilot study of an internet-delivered intervention targeting self-perceived residual cognitive symptoms after major depressive disorder. Applied neuropsychology: Adult. 10 pages.
Show author(s) (2021). A brief intervention for PTSD versus treatment as usual: Study protocol for a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial. Trials. 1-17.

Show author(s) (2020). The incidence of dental fracturing in electroconvulsive therapy in Sweden. Journal of ECT. 168-171.
Show author(s) (2020). The effect of pulse width on subjective memory impairment and remission rate 6 months after electroconvulsive therapy. Journal of ECT. 272-278.
Show author(s) (2020). Predictors of Treatment Response to Electroconvulsive Therapy in Schizophrenia - A Nationwide Registry-Based Study. Schizophrenia Bulletin Open.
Show author(s) (2020). Electroconvulsive therapy in depression: Improvement in quality of life depending on age and sex. Journal of ECT. 242-246.
Show author(s) (2020). Anterior cingulate gamma-aminobutyric acid concentrations and electroconvulsive therapy. Brain and Behavior. 1-11.
Show author(s) (2020). A pilot study of cognitive remediation in remitted major depressive disorder patients. Applied neuropsychology: Adult. 1-11.
Show author(s) (2020). A longitudinal 5-year follow-up study of cognitive function after first episode major depressive disorder: Exploring state, scar and trait effects. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 1-12.
Show author(s) (2020). A Longitudinal Comparison Between Depressed Patients Receiving Electroconvulsive Therapy and Healthy Controls on Specific Memory Functions. The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders (PCC).

Show author(s) (2019). The importance of clinical normative data for conceptualizing neuropsychological deficits in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Applied neuropsychology: Adult. 1-10.
Show author(s) (2019). Rehospitalization of Postpartum Depression and Psychosis After Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Population-Based Study With a Matched Control Group. Journal of ECT. 264-271.
Show author(s) (2019). Physical exercise augmented cognitive behaviour therapy for older adults with generalised anxiety disorder (PEXACOG): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 1-14.
Show author(s) (2019). Parental predictors of children’s executive functioning from ages 6 to 10. British Journal of Developmental Psychology. 410-426.
Show author(s) (2019). Norms matter: U.S. normative data under-estimate cognitive deficits in Norwegians with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The Clinical Neuropsychologist. 1-18.
Show author(s) (2019). Lithium for suicide and readmission prevention after electroconvulsive therapy for unipolar depression: Population-based register study. BJPsych Open.
Show author(s) (2019). Facing recovery: Emotional bias in working memory, rumination, relapse, and recurrence of major depression; an experimental paradigm conducted five years after first episode of major depression. Applied neuropsychology: Adult. 1-13.
Show author(s) (2019). Electroconvulsive therapy in bipolar depression ? effectiveness and prognostic factors. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 196-204.
Show author(s) (2019). Cognitive enhancement therapy for mood disorders: A new paradigm? Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry (Print). 1148-1150.

Show author(s) (2017). Subjective memory immediately following electroconvulsive therapy. Journal of ECT. 96-103.

Show author(s) (2016). Striatal hypoactivation and cognitive slowing in patients with partially remitted and remitted major depression. PsyCh Journal. 191-205.

Show author(s) (2015). Effects of ECT in treatment of depression: Study protocol for a prospective neuroradiological study of acute and longitudinal effects on brain structure and function. BMC Psychiatry. 10 pages.
Show author(s) (2015). Cognitive functioning and cortisol profiles in first episode major depression. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. 379-383.
Show author(s) (2015). Brain MR spectroscopy in autism spectrum disorder—the GABA excitatory/inhibitory imbalance theory revisited. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 1-12.

Show author(s) (2013). Visual memory performance in patients with major depression: a 9-month follow-up. Applied Neuropsychology. 192-196.
Show author(s) (2013). Verbal memory functioning in recurrent depression during partial remission and remission. Frontiers in Psychology.
Show author(s) (2013). The relationship between residual symptoms of depression and emotional information processing. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. 233-239.
Show author(s) (2013). Subjective sleep quality in relation to inhibition and heart rate variability in patients with panic disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders. 152-155.
Show author(s) (2013). Neurocognitive profiles in treatment-resistant bipolar I and bipolar II disorder depression. BMC Psychiatry.
Show author(s) (2013). Intracranial arachnoid cysts: impairment of higher cognitive functions and postoperative improvement. Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. 10 pages.
Show author(s) (2013). Health-related quality of life in recurrent major depressive disorder-A 10-year follow-up study. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. 339-343.
Show author(s) (2013). Emotional information processing in major depression remission and partial remission: faces come first. Applied Neuropsychology. 110-119.
Show author(s) (2013). Cognitive functioning and cortisol suppression in recurrent major depression. PsyCh Journal. 167-174.
Show author(s) (2013). Cognitive function in first episode major depressive disorder: Poor inhibition and semantic fluency performance. Cognitive Neuropsychiatry. 515-530.
Show author(s) (2013). A follow-up study of first episode major depressive disorder. Impairment in inhibition and semantic fluency – potential predictors for relapse? Frontiers in Psychology.

Show author(s) (2012). The relationships among heart rate variability, executive functions, and clinical variables in patients with panic disorder. International Journal of Psychophysiology. 269-275.
Show author(s) (2012). Information processing in patients with first episode major depression. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. 445-449.
Show author(s) (2012). Information processing in first episode depression. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. 445-449.
Show author(s) (2012). Effortful information processing in patients with major depression - A 10-year follow-up study. Psychiatry Research. 420-423.

Show author(s) (2011). Testing the cognitive effort hypothesis of cognitive impairment in major depression. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. 74-80.
Show author(s) (2011). Prolonged Impairment in Inhibition and Semantic Fluency in a Follow-up Study of Recurrent Major Depression. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology. 677-686.
Show author(s) (2011). Patients with major depression show intact memory performance- given optimal conditions. Applied Neuropsychology. 191-196.
Show author(s) (2011). Is impairment in cognitive inhibition in the acute phase of major depression irreversible? Results from a 10-year follow-up study. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice. 141-150.

Show author(s) (2010). Go/NoGo performance in boys with Tourette Syndrome. Child Neuropsychology: A Journal of Normal and Abnormal Development in Childhood and Adolescence. 162-168.
Show author(s) (2010). Enduring cognitive dysfunction in unipolar major depression: A test-retest study using the Stroop paradigm. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. 304-308.

Show author(s) (2009). Cognitive functioning in major depression - a summary. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 7 pages.

Show author(s) (2007). Increased parietal and frontal activation after remission from recurrent major depression: A repeated fMRI study. Cognitive Therapy and Research. 147-160.
Show author(s) (2007). Functional brain asymmetry, attentional modulation, and interhemispheric transfer in boys with Tourette syndrome. Neuropsychologia. 767-774.

Show author(s) (2006). Reduced white matter connectivity in the Corpus Callosum of children with Tourette syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 1013-1022.

Show author(s) (2005). Frequency and characteristics of recurrent major depressed patients with inimpaired executive functions. World Journal of Biological Psychiatry. 36-44.

Show author(s) (2004). Brain localization of attentional control in different age groups by combining functional and structural MRI. NeuroImage. 912-919.

Show author(s) (2003). Selective impairment in effortful information processing in major depression. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. 954-959.
Show author(s) (2003). Major depression and cognitive dysfunction. An experimental study of the cognitive effort hypothesis. Presentasjon av sammendrag av doktorgradsavhandling. Nevropsykologi : Medlemsblad for Norsk Nevropsykologisk Forening. 18-19.
Show author(s) (2003). Long-lasting cognitive impairment in unipolar major depression. A 6 month follow-up study. Psychiatry Research. 189-196.
Show author(s) (2003). Automatic and effortful information processing in unipolar major depression. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. 409-413.

Show author(s) (2000). The significance of personality in pain from gallbladder stones. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. 759-764.
Show author(s) (2000). The significance of personality in pain from gallbladder stone. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. 759-764.

Popular scientific lecture

Show author(s) (2009). Nevropsykologiske problemstillinger innenfor de logopediske fagfeltet- Bredde og spesifisitet.

Academic lecture

Show author(s) (2019). Physical exercise augmented cognitive behaviour therapy for older adults with generalized anxiety disorder – scientific rationale, study protocol, and preliminary findings for the Pexacog trial.

Show author(s) (2018). Augmenting CBT with physical exercise intreatment of generalised anxiety disorder in holder adults – results from a pilot study.

Show author(s) (2010). Go/NoGo performance in boys with Tourette syndrome.
Show author(s) (2010). Depression and information processing - is emotional visual search an appropriate paradigm?

Show author(s) (2009). Kognitiv fungering over tid hos alvorlig deprimerte pasienter.

Show author(s) (2008). Emotional information processing in major depressive disorder.

Show author(s) (2005). Egentlig depression och kognitiv dysfunktion.
Show author(s) (2005). Depresjon og kognitiv funksjon.

Show author(s) (2003). Long-lasting cognitive dysfunction in M.D.

Show author(s) (2002). Attentional deficit in patients with major depression.

Show author(s) (2001). Attentional deficits in patients with major depression.

Reader opinion piece

Show author(s) (2017). Cognitive and affective remediation training for mood disorders. Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry (Print). 317-319.

Research groups

Mood and Cognitive Function Group

Bergen fMRI Group