- E-mailJon.Vollestad@uib.no
- Phone+47 55 58 49 39
- Visitor AddressAlrek helseklynge, Årstadveien 175009 Bergen
- Postal AddressPostboks 78075020 Bergen
My research interests revolve around the understanding and treatment of anxiety, depression, and other emotional disorders. I have been particularly interested in how acceptance and mindfulness can be beneficial for individuals dealing with anxiety and recurrent depression. I have participated in various clinical studies exploring this area.
Currently, my primary focus is on transdiagnostic treatment, which targets common vulnerability factors underlying various disorders rather than specific diagnoses.Together with colleagues at the University of Bergen (UiB) and internationally, I am researching the transdiagnostic model "Unified Protocol." We are also working towards implementing this approach in Norwegian mental health care and other settings.
- (2023). What I missed from my online therapist: A survey-based qualitative investigation of patient experiences of therapist contact in guided internet interventions. Frontiers in Psychology.
- (2023). Unified Protocol. Transdiagnostisk behandling for emosjonelle lidelser . Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. 821-830.
- (2022). Self-Compassion and Its Association With Ruminative Tendencies and Vagally Mediated Heart Rate Variability in Recurrent Major Depression. Frontiers in Psychology.
- (2022). From seeing difficult behaviour to recognizing legitimate needs–A qualitative study of mothers' experiences of participating in a Circle of Security Parenting program in a public mental health setting. Psychotherapy Research. 1-13.
- (2021). Self-criticism and self-reassurance in individuals with recurrent depression: Effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and relationship to relapse. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. 1-12.
- (2020). To make a run for IT – A feasibility study of ICBT combined with physical exercise for patients with panic disorder. Psychiatry Research. 1-9.
- (2020). The effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on risk and protective factors of depressive relapse – a randomized wait-list controlled trial . BMC Psychology.
- (2020). Participant experiences of change in mindfulness-based stress reduction for anxiety disorders. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being.
- (2020). Is Dispositional Self-Compassion Associated With Psychophysiological Flexibility Beyond Mindfulness? An Exploratory Pilot Study. Frontiers in Psychology.
- (2019). The association between juvenile onset of depression and emotion regulation difficulties. Frontiers in Psychology. 1-12.
- (2019). Can clinical psychology students benefit from brief and intensive mindfulness training? Counselling and Psychotherapy Research.
- (2018). Mindfulness – a review of knowledge status and relevance for psychological treatment. Scandinavian Psychologist.
- (2016). An open trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction for young adults with social anxiety disorder. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. 80-90.
- (2015). A feasibility study on combining internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy with physical exercise as treatment for panic disorder—treatment protocol and preliminary results. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. 275-287.
- (2013). The Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire in Norway. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. 250-260.
- (2012). Mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions for anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Clinical Psychology. 239-260.
- (2011). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for patients with anxiety disorders: Evaluation in a randomized controlled trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 281-288.
- (2010). Å være til stede sammen: Oppmerksomt nærvær i psykoterapi. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. 112-117.
- (2009). Får jeg det til? en kartlegging av studentterapeuters bekymringer. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. 240-245.
- (2007). Oppmerksomt nærvær meditative teknikker som utgangspunkt for psykologisk behandling. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. 860-867.
- (2016). Å være med det som er: Kropp, følelser og mindfulness.
- (2016). Mindfulness og psykisk helse. Hva vet vi – og hvordan kan vi bruke det vi vet?
- (2016). Mentalization and mindfulness: similarities and differences. Dialogmøte.
- (2016). Hvordan virker mindfulness?
- (2014). Hva vi vet og ikke vet: utfordringer og dilemmaer i forskning på mindfulness.
- (2023). Virker egentlig psykoterapi?
- (2019). Er det sunt å lese romaner? .
- (2023). EN behandling for alt? Transdiagnostisk tilnærming til emosjonelle lidelser. .
- (2018). Combining manualised physical exercise with internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for panic disorder – A feasibility study.
- (2015). Participant Experiences of Augmented Treatment Combining Internet Based CBT and Physical Exercise as Treatment for Panic Disorder - Preliminary Findings from Qualitative Interviews. iN Anders Hovland (Chair), Augmenting CBT with physical exercise for anxiety disorders.
- (2015). Combining Internet Based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with Physical Exercise as Treatment for Panic Disorder - Treatment Protocol and Preliminary Results from a Feasibility Study. In: Anders Hovland (Chair), Augmenting CBT with physical exercise for anxiety disorders.
- (2010). Mindfulness-basert behandling av angstlidelser.
- (2010). Mindfulness training for patients with anxiety disorders - results from a randomized controlled trial.
- (2008). Oppmerksomt nærvær og psykoterapi.
- (2008). Oppmerksomt nærvær og psykologisk behandling.
- (2008). Oppmerksomt nærvær.
- (2008). Oppmerksomt nærvær.
- (2008). Oppmerksomhetstrening for mestring av angstlidelser.
- (2014). Mindfulness i psykologisk behandling. Universitetsforlaget.
- (2011). The impact of mindfulness training on self-reported mindfulness: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- (2010). En empirisk studie av sammenhenger mellom oppmerksomt nærvær og personlighetstrekk i et norsk studentutvalg.
- (2009). Sinnet som relasjonelt knutepunkt: En teoretisk undersøkelse av intersubjektiv psykoanalyse og buddhistisk psykologi.
- (2009). A Qualitative Study of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Anxiety Disorders - Developing a Friendly Relationship to Experience.
- (2020). En mann for vår tid. Bokessay om boken "Sick souls, healthy minds. How William James can save your life" av John Kaag. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. 530-536.
- (2018). Evidensbasert visdom : bokessay . Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. 218 -226.
- (2010). Zen og kunsten å holde beina på bakken. Dagbladet.
- (2010). Stort udekket behandlingsbehov. Bergens Tidende.
- (2007). Å være til stede. Bergens Tidende.
- (2011). Mindfulness-based treatment for anxiety disorders: A quantitative review of the evidence, results from a randomized controlled trial, and qualitative exploration of patient experiences.
- (2019). Selvets Amerika.
- (2018). Oppsummerer hva vi vet om mindfulness.
- (2008). Tankekraft funker mot stress.
- (2007). Skal få stressede på andre tanker.
- (2023). Virker egentlig psykoterapi?
- (2022). Salong: Den gåtefulle søvnen.
- (2015). Mindfulness- and Acceptance-based Interventions in the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders. 41 pages.
- (2013). «Mindfulness»-baserte intervensjoner i behandling av angstlidelser. 9 pages.
- (2018). Emotion regulation in current and remitted depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology. 20 pages.
- (2015). The Impact of Group-Based Mindfulness Training on Self-Reported Mindfulness: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Mindfulness. 501-522.
- (2017). En god sirkel. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. 546-556.
- (2016). Postmodernisme på norsk. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. 942-947.
- (2016). En øvelse i å være med det som er. Psykologisk.no – Scandinavian Psychologist. 6 pages.
- (2015). Om tungsinn og rosiner. Psykologisk.no – Scandinavian Psychologist.
- (2013). How may mindfulness help in working with substance use disorders. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. 194-200.
- (2013). Can mindfulness be of help in coping with substance abuse. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. 112-115.
- (2008). Når en verker etter lindring oppmerksomt nærvær som forebygging. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. 990-991.
- (2007). Tilstede i øyeblikket. Hubro. Magasin for Universitetet i Bergen.
More information in national current research information system (CRIStin)
Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (Unified Protocol)
Treatment of mental disorders has long been focused on specific diagnoses. This has contributed to the development of many effective methods but also comes with some challenges. It is demanding for individual practitioners to learn a manual for each disorder, and it is resource-intensive to implement many different methods in healthcare services. Additionally, high comorbidity between conditions can make it difficult to determine which diagnosis-specific approach to choose. Furthermore, research on mental disorders raises more fundamental questions about the validity of the categorical diagnostic understanding in the DSM and ICD systems. This has led to increased interest in transdiagnostic treatment, which targets vulnerability factors that are common to various conditions.
One such approach is the Unified Protocol (UP), which focuses on difficulties in emotion regulation as an underlying process across different mental disorders. This project consists of multiple components. A feasibility study of UP has been initiated at the outpatient clinic of the Department of Psychology. The project will also enable the investigation of potential changes in interoceptive ability (sensing internal bodily functions like the heart and respiration) and heart rate variability (which is linked to emotion regulation ability) in individuals undergoing UP treatment. Professor Elisabeth Schanche, Associate Professor Jon Vøllestand, and Associate Professor Berge Osnes lead this project. A larger European multisite study (RCT) involving partners from Spain, Portugal, Romania, Germany, Denmark, and Norway is planned. In this part of the project, new digital solutions and technological tools, such as smartphone apps, will be developed and tested.