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Marte-Helene Bjørk's picture

Marte-Helene Bjørk

Professor
Department of Clinical Medicine
  • E-mailMarte.Bjork@uib.no
  • Phone+47 959 76 755
  • Visitor Address
    Department of Neurology, old main building, Jonas Liesvei 71, Haukeland University Hospital
  • Postal Address
    Postboks 7804
    5020 Bergen

Marte Bjørk primarily works with population-based studies on people with neurological diseases. She investigates among other how a mother’s epilepsy affects pregnancy, birth and child development. She is also involved in research on the underlying causes of migraine attacks through the use of neurophysiological methods.

Main supervisor for 2 PhD candidates in neuroepidemiology. Bedside teaching of medical students in the field of clinical neurology.

Academic article
  • Show author(s) (2023). The association between antihypertensive medications and mental health outcomes among Syrian war refugees with stress and hypertension. Journal of Psychosomatic Research.
  • Show author(s) (2023). Prenatal exposure to antiseizure medication and incidence of childhood- and adolescence-onset psychiatric disorders: A Nordic population-based cohort study. JAMA Neurology. 1-11.
  • Show author(s) (2023). Effects of insufficient sleep on sensorimotor processing in migraine. A randomised, blinded crossover study of event related beta oscillations. Cephalalgia.
  • Show author(s) (2023). Continuous positive airway pressure in cluster headache: A randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blind, crossover study. Cephalalgia. 1-10.
  • Show author(s) (2022). Severe Hyperhomocysteinemia in a Patient with Parkinson Disease. Clinical Chemistry. 396-401.
  • Show author(s) (2022). Prevalence of self-reported emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and association with fear of childbirth in pregnant women with epilepsy: The Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study. Epilepsia. 1822-1834.
  • Show author(s) (2022). Plasma unmetabolized folic acid in pregnancy and risk of autistic traits and language impairment in antiseizure medication-exposed children of women with epilepsy. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1432-1440.
  • Show author(s) (2022). Folic Acid and Risk of Preterm Birth, Preeclampsia, and Fetal Growth Restriction among Women with Epilepsy: A Prospective Cohort Study. Neurology. E605-E615.
  • Show author(s) (2022). Comparative Safety of Antiseizure Medication Monotherapy for Major Malformations. Annals of Neurology. 12 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2022). Cancer risk in children of mothers with epilepsy and high-dose folic acid use during pregnancy. JAMA Neurology. 1-9.
  • Show author(s) (2022). Association of adverse childhood experiences with the development of multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. 645-650.
  • Show author(s) (2022). Association of Prenatal Exposure to Antiseizure Medication With Risk of Autism and Intellectual Disability. JAMA Neurology. 672-681.
  • Show author(s) (2022). Abuse and revictimization in adulthood in multiple sclerosis: a cross-sectional study during pregnancy. Journal of Neurology. 5901-5909.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Vitamin B status and association with antiseizure medication in pregnant women with epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2968-2980.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Prenatal exposure to valproate and risk of congenital malformations—Could we have known earlier?—A population-based cohort study. Epilepsia. 2981-2993.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Perinatal Depression and Anxiety in Women with Multiple Sclerosis: A Population-Based Cohort Study. Neurology. e2789-e2800.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Antipsychotic use in pregnancy and risk of attention/deficit-hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder: a Nordic cohort study. Evidence-Based Mental Health. 54-62.
  • Show author(s) (2020). Treating women of reproductive age with valproate. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. 1-6.
  • Show author(s) (2020). M.H. Bjørk og medarbeidere svarer. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. 1-2.
  • Show author(s) (2020). Gir ACE-hemmere og angiotensinreseptorantagonister økt risiko for alvorlig covid-19? Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening.
  • Show author(s) (2019). Language impairment in children aged 5 and 8 years after antiepileptic drug exposure in utero – the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study . European Journal of Neurology. 1-9.
  • Show author(s) (2019). Fluctuations of sensorimotor processing in migraine: A controlled longitudinal study of beta event related desynchronization. The Journal of Headache and Pain. 1-10.
  • Show author(s) (2018). Verbal abilities in children of mothers with epilepsy: Association to maternal folate status. Neurology. e811-e821.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Young people with epilepsy have an increased risk of eating disorder and poor quality diet. Epilepsia Open. 40-45.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Association of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy with the risk of autistic traits in children exposed to antiepileptic drugs in utero. JAMA Neurology. 160-168.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Alterations in post-movement beta event related synchronization throughout the migraine cycle: A controlled, longitudinal study. Cephalalgia. 718-729.
  • Show author(s) (2016). Overweight in epilepsy as a risk factor for pregnancy and delivery complications. Epilepsia. 1849-1857.
  • Show author(s) (2016). Life satisfaction in women with epilepsy during and after pregnancy. Epilepsy & Behavior. 251-257.
  • Show author(s) (2015). Psychiatric comorbidity, social aspects and quality of life in a population-based cohort of expecting fathers with epilepsy. PLOS ONE. 15 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2015). Epilepsy and eating disorders during pregnancy: Prevalence, complications and birth outcome. Seizure. 81-84.
  • Show author(s) (2015). Depression and anxiety in women with epilepsy during pregnancy and after delivery: a prospective population-based cohort study on frequency, risk factors, medication, and prognosis. Epilepsia. 28-39.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Using the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study to determine risk factors for delayed development and neuro-psychiatric symptoms in the offspring of parents with epilepsy. Norsk Epidemiologi. 79-89.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Sleep quality, arousal and pain thresholds in tension-type headache: A blinded controlled polysomnographic study. Cephalalgia. 455-463.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Sleep quality and arousal in migraine and tension-type headache: The headache-sleep study. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, Supplementum. 47-54.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Diffusion-weighted lesions in acute ischaemic stroke patients with migraine. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. 41-46.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Sleep-related and non-sleep-related migraine: interictal sleep quality, arousals and pain thresholds. The Journal of Headache and Pain. 9 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Sleep quality, arousal and pain thresholds in migraineurs: a blinded controlled polysomnographic study. The Journal of Headache and Pain. 10 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2011). What initiates a migraine attack? Conclusions from four longitudinal studies of quantitative EEG and steady-state visual-evoked potentials in migraineurs. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. 56-63.
  • Show author(s) (2011). Photic EEG-driving responses related to ictal phases and trigger sensitivity in migraine: A longitudinal, controlled study. Cephalalgia. 444-455.
  • Show author(s) (2011). Cerebral arterial vasospasm. . Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. 1558.
  • Show author(s) (2010). The EEG response to photic stimulation is not increased in alcohol-related seizures. Clinical Neurophysiology. 1810-1815.
  • Show author(s) (2010). Quantitative EEG in Patients With Alcohol-Related Seizures. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 1751-1758.
  • Show author(s) (2009). The occipital alpha rhythm related to the "migraine cycle" and headache burden: a blinded, controlled longitudinal study. Clinical Neurophysiology. 464-471.
  • Show author(s) (2009). Interictal quantitative EEG in migraine: a blinded controlled study. The Journal of Headache and Pain. 331-339.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Quantitative EEG power and asymmetry increase 36 h before a migraine attack. Cephalalgia. 960-968.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Quantitative EEG findings in patients with acute, brief depression combined with other fluctuating psychiatric symptoms: a controlled study from an acute psychiatric department. BMC Psychiatry.
Academic lecture
  • Show author(s) (2019). The NorMig study: Migraine prophylactics in the Norwegian population- duration of use and effect on triptan prescription.
  • Show author(s) (2018). Increased preictal beta-ERD-response of primary sensorimotor cortex during brief hand movements with sensory stimulation in migraine.
  • Show author(s) (2013). The headache sleep study.
  • Show author(s) (2013). I hvilken grad vurderer Nevrologer førerkortforskriften likt.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Førerkortforskriften:Hva betyr de nye reglene for deg som nevrolog?
  • Show author(s) (2013). Doesmother’s epilepsy or its treatment affect the brain of the child?
  • Show author(s) (2013). Anxiety and depression before and after delivery in pregnant women with epilepsy - A prospective, population based study.
  • Show author(s) (2009). Langsom hjerneaktivitet mellom migreneanfall: en blinded, kontrollert EEG studie.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Kortikal bakgrunnsaktivitet i relasjon til anfall og hodepinealvorlighet hos migrenepasienter.
  • Show author(s) (2007). Cyclic brain function in migraine.
  • Show author(s) (2006). EEG og QEEG funn i pasienter med AUDS sammenlignet med MDE.
  • Show author(s) (2004). Electroencephalographic Findings in Patients with Depression and Rapidly Changing Psychiatric Symptoms.
  • Show author(s) (2003). EEG and quantitative EEG findings in patients with depression and rapidly changing psychiatric symptoms: a naturalistic study from an acute psychiatric departmen.
Reader opinion piece
  • Show author(s) (2014). M.H. Bjørk & I.O. Gjerde svarer:. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. 1549.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Answer to comment on "sleep quality, arousal and pain thresholds in migraineurs: a blinded controlled polysomnographic study". The Journal of Headache and Pain. 14-56.
  • Show author(s) (2011). Brev til redaktørenMarte-Helene Bjørk og medarbeidere svarer:. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. 2334.
Short communication
  • Show author(s) (2015). En mann i 50-årene med høyt ferritinnivå og økende kognitiv svikt. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. 1369-1372.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Spasmer i beina – skade i nakken. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. 1150.
Book review
  • Show author(s) (2011). Forstyrrelser i hjernen ved migrene. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening.
Doctoral dissertation
  • Show author(s) (2019). Overweight and eating disorders in people with epilepsy.
  • Show author(s) (2011). Do Brain Rhythms Change before the Migraine Attack? A Longitudinal Controlled EEG Study.
Interview
  • Show author(s) (2010). Migrenehjerner sliter.
  • Show author(s) (2010). Migrenehjerner sliter.
  • Show author(s) (2010). Migrenehjerner har et problem.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Neural activity changes seen well before migraine onset.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
  • Show author(s) (2018). Perinatal depression in neurological disease and disability.
Abstract
  • Show author(s) (2012). Subjective and objective sleep quality related to pain thresholds in tension type headache and controls. Journal of Sleep Research. 176-176.
  • Show author(s) (2010). Photic EEG-driving responses (SSVEPs) are depressed in migraine without aura within a true interictal interval. European Journal of Neurology. 659-659.
  • Show author(s) (2006). The alpha rhythm in migraine: a longitudinal EEG study. Scotland Clin Neurophysiol. 139-139.
  • Show author(s) (2005). Quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) in migraine. Cephalalgia. 882.
Poster
  • Show author(s) (2019). Cyclic fluctuations of sensorimotor cortex sensory processing in migraine may be important for attack initiation: observations from event related EEG changes.
  • Show author(s) (2016). EVENT RELATED DYNAMICS OF PRIMARY SENSORIMOTOR CORTEX DURING BRIEF HAND MOVEMENTS WITH AND WITHOUT DISCRIMINATIVE SENSORY STIMULATION IN MIGRAINE.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Arousability and headache onset time Sleep quality and pain thresholds in tension-type headache, migraine and healthy controls.
  • Show author(s) (2012). Subjective and objective sleep quality related to pain thresholds in tension type headache and controls.
  • Show author(s) (2010). Sensorisk hypersensitivitet hos migrenepasienter er assosiert med langsommere EEG-aktivitet og dårligere respons på blikende lys.
  • Show author(s) (2010). Migrenepasienter har lavere fotorespons når målingene er gjort mer enn 72 timer før anfall.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Alpha activity in relation to attacks and clinical severity in migraine.
  • Show author(s) (2007). Cyclic brain functions in migraine.
  • Show author(s) (2006). The alpha rhythm in migraine: a longitudinal EEG study.
  • Show author(s) (2005). Quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) in migraine.
  • Show author(s) (2005). Patients in a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) with depression and rapidly changing psychiatric symptoms: EEG and quantitative EEG findings.
  • Show author(s) (2005). Patients in a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit with Depression and Rapidly Changing Psychiatric Symptoms: EEG and Quantitative EEG Finding.
Academic literature review
  • Show author(s) (2021). Management of cluster headache and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias in pregnancy and breastfeeding. European Journal of Neurology. 2443-2455.
  • Show author(s) (2019). Praktisk håndtering av hodepine. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. 617-620.
  • Show author(s) (2015). Epilepsy and recommendations for breastfeeding. Seizure. 57-65.
  • Show author(s) (2015). Depression and anxiety during pregnancy and the postpartum period in women with epilepsy: A review of frequency, risks and recommendations for treatment. Seizure. 39-45.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Is EEG a useful test in adult psychiatry? . Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. 1200-1204.

More information in national current research information system (CRIStin)

Selected articles:

  1. Marte Bjørk, Gyri Veiby, Simone F. Reiter, Jan Ø. Berle, Anne Kjersti Daltveit, Olav Spigset, Bernt A, Engelsen, Nils Erik Gilhus.Depression and anxiety in women with epilepsy during pregnancy and after delivery: a prospective population-based cohort study on frequency, risk factors, medication, and prognosis. Epilepsia. 2015;56(1):28-39.

  2. Eivind Kolstad, Nils Erik Gilhus, Gyri Veiby, Simone F. Reiter, Morten I. Lossius, Marte Helene Bjørk. Epilepsy and eating disorders during pregnancy: Prevalence, complications and birth outcome. Seizure. 2015 May;28:81-4

  3. Marte Bjørk, Gyri Veiby, Bernt A. Engelsen, Nils Erik Gilhus. Depression and anxiety during pregnancy and the postpartum period in women with epilepsy; a review of frequency, risks and recommendations for treatment. Seizure. 2015;28:33-39.Review.

  4. Morten Engstrøm, Knut Hagen, Marte Bjørk, Lars Jacob Stovner, Marit Stjern, Trond Sand.Sleep quality, arousal and pain thresholds in tension-type headache. A blinded controlled polysomnographic study. Cephalalgia 2014;34(6):455-63

  5. Marte Bjørk, Knut Hagen, Lars Jacob Stovner, Trond Sand. Photic EEG-driving responses related to ictal phases and trigger sensitivity in migraine: a longitudinal, controlled study. Cephalalgia 2011; 31:444-455

Born in 1980. Partner, 3 children.

Education: Cand med 2007. Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Neuroscience (INM), Norway, Trondheim (NTNU).

PhD in Neuroscience, NTNU 2011. The PhD dissertation concerned brain rhythms’ relevance for understanding migraine attack-initiating mechanisms.

From 2010 resident doctor at the Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, and 50 % position as postdoc at the Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen since 2012. 

Link to page at Researchgate.

Fields of competence 
Epilepsy
Neuroepidemiology
Neurophysiology
Neuropsychiatry
Migraine