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Øra, Hege Prag; Kirmess, Melanie; Brady, Marian C & Becker, Frank
(2023).
Telerehabilitation for post-stroke aphasia - Results and experience from a randomised controlled trial on speech-language therapy by videoconference .
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Brady, Marian C.; Partee, Iselin Anne Cecilia; Becker, Frank & Kirmess, Melanie
(2023).
Telerehabilitation for post-stroke aphasia – results and experience from a randomised controlled trial on speech-language therapy by videoconference .
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Brady, Marian C.; Partee, Iselin Anne Cecilia; Becker, Frank & Kirmess, Melanie
(2023).
Telerehabilitation for post-stroke aphasia – results and experience from a randomised controlled trial on speech-language therapy by videoconference .
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Kirmess, Melanie & Ingebretsen, Silje Merethe Hansen
(2023).
Referat: Disputas Maribeth Rivelsrud.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
69(3),
p. 44–45.
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Næss, Kari-Anne Bottegård; Sjøstrand, Åse; Guttormsen, Linn Stokke; Melle, Ane Hestmann; Hoff, Karoline & Hofslundsengen, Hilde Christine
[Show all 8 contributors for this article]
(2022).
Common Component Treatment Program.
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Kirmess, Melanie; Hofslundsengen, Hilde Christine; Guttormsen, Linn Stokke; Hansen, Elisabeth Holm & Næss, Kari-Anne Bottegaard
(2021).
Do early childhood professionals in Norway distinguish between stuttering and normal dysfluencies.
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Øra, Hege Prag; Kirmess, Melanie & Becker, Frank
(2020).
Språktrening rett hjem - intensiv språktrening via videokonferanse.
Afasiposten.
ISSN 0803-2467.
p. 12–14.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2020).
Hjelp – jeg kan ikke snakke!
Show summary
Afasi er en diagnose som rammer en av fire voksne hjerneslagpasienter. Hjernen er blitt skadet slik at området som styrer kommunikasjon får problemer. Ikke bare blir det vanskelig å føre en samtale, det kan plutselig bli vanskelig å lese aviser, høre på nyheter eller sende meldinger. Noen personer har mindre utfordringer, mens andre opplever alvorlige utfordringer.
I dette foredraget får du svar på spørsmålene:
Hva skjer egentlig i hjernen når vi prater?
Og hvorfor oppstår problemene etter et hjerneslag?
Hva kan man gjøre med det? Blir man frisk igjen?
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Hansen, Silje Merethe; Kirmess, Melanie & Stubberud, Jan
(2019).
Group Based Treatment for Persons With Social Communication Disorder: Participant Evaluation Post-treatment.
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Våge, Kristine & Kirmess, Melanie
(2019).
“Twice as good?” - The outcome of participating twice in an intensive group treatment for aphasia .
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Tinbod, Unn; Löfkvist, Ulrika; Thijn Sverdrup, Anne-Cathrine & Kirmess, Melanie
(2019).
New ways of measuring every day communication - The application of LENA™ to persons with aphasia.
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Kirmess, Melanie; Hvistendahl, Anne-Kathrine; Kjølberg, Eli Anne; Koot, Karin; Hide, Øydis & Døli, Hedda
[Show all 7 contributors for this article]
(2019).
”Sopp-kopp-topp” – Experience from the validation of the Norwegian version of the Diagnostic Instrument for Apraxia of Speech (DIAS).
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Sjøstrand, Åse; Kefalianos, Elaina; Hofslundsengen, Hilde Christine; Guttormsen, Linn Stokke; Kirmess, Melanie & Lervåg, Arne
[Show all 8 contributors for this article]
(2019).
Protocol: Non-pharmacological interventions for stuttering in children aged between birth and six years.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
ISSN 1469-493X.
Full text in Research Archive
Show summary
This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:
Primary objective
To assess the immediate and long‐term effects of non‐pharmacological interventions for stuttering on speech outcomes in children aged between birth and six years.
Secondary objective
To describe the relationship between intervention effects and participant characteristics (i.e. child age, child’s communication attitudes and the impact stuttering has on the child’s QoL).
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Sønsterud, Hilda; Kirmess, Melanie; Feragen, Kristin Judith Billaud; Ward, David & Halvorsen, Margrethe S.
(2018).
Minding the body in speecy: Individualized therapy for adults who stutter.
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Sønsterud, Hilda; Howells, Kirsten; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Feragen, Kristin Judith Billaud; Ward, David & Kirmess, Melanie
(2018).
The importance of the working alliance in stuttering therapy:
Client perceptions.
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Sønsterud, Hilda; Kirmess, Melanie; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Feragen, Kristin Judith Billaud & Ward, David
(2018).
Individualized therapy for adults who stutter: An evaluation on speech and avoidance behaviour.
Show summary
Abstract. Purpose: Evidence suggests that there is considerable individual variation in response to stuttering interventions. Despite this knowledge, stuttering research has so far mainly focused on demonstrating outcomes from a particular stuttering treatment approach at the time. There is a need to investigate personal variation in stuttering symptoms and manage that variability through personalized and holistic based management plans. This approach is context sensitive and places the individual’s specific concerns at the core of therapy. One approach which has increased in popularity within the stuttering field, is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The main goal in ACT is to foster psychological flexibility, which is achieved through the six core processes of acceptance, diffusion, self as context, committed action, values, and contact with the present moment. In this study ACT was used as a working frame. Based on the individual’s perspective, ACT was used flexibly, and was combined with stuttering-, and speech modification elements. We categorized stuttering- and speech modification-, and mindfulness-based elements into five areas of focus: 1) Awareness of body tension and posture, 2) Awareness of breath support in speech production, 3) Awareness in speech production to promote easier voicing, 4) Awareness of acceptance, affective and mindfulness-based strategies, and 5) Awareness presentation skills. We call this the ‘Minding the body in speech’-approach. Aims: The aims of this study were twofold: 1) To evaluate whether the ‘Minding the body in speech’-approach reduces stuttering severity for participants with overt stuttering. 2) To evaluate the extent to which the ‘Minding the body in speech’-approach has a positive impact on confidence in communication, avoidance behavior, and quality of life. Methods: Eighteen adults, age 21-61 years (mean age 35,5) took part in a multiple single case design study. Participants underwent a six-week pre-clinic assessment phase, followed by an eight-week explorative therapy period comprising a total of 10 hours within four therapy sessions administered by an experienced speech and language therapist specialized in fluency disorders. Each participant was re-tested for speech and a range of cognitive and emotional variables immediately after therapy, and again at six, and 12 months post-therapy. Results: Sustained improvements are demonstrated in the participants’ speech behavior, communication, and quality of life. Significant reduction in avoidance behavior on both individual-, and group-level is documented. At group level, the ‘Minding the body in speech’-approach was associated with positive statistical, clinical and personal significance. On an individual basis, the variability in response to the holistic multi-faceted approach was substantial. The findings indicated significantly greater improvement in outcomes for participants who reported an intensive home-based training compared to those who reported ‘now-and then’-training. Conclusion: As shown in this study, the relative weighting between the areas of focus needed to vary from individual to individual. Multiple factors were found to influence stuttering and stuttering related psychological variables at post-therapy. The intensity of the self-managed practice was a key factor in achieving long-lasting, positive change.
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Hansen, Silje Merethe; Stubberud, Jan & Kirmess, Melanie
(2018).
Group Based Treatment for Persons With Social Communication Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol.
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Sønsterud, Hilda; Kirmess, Melanie; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Feragen, Kristin Judith Billaud & Ward, David
(2017).
Individualized stuttering therapy for adults - what works for whom?
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Sønsterud, Hilda; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Feragen, Kristin Judith Billaud; Ward, David & Kirmess, Melanie
(2017).
What do people search for in stuttering therapy
-personal goal-setting as a gold standard?
Aim.
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Sønsterud, Hilda; Howells, Kirsten; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Feragen, Kristin Judith Billaud; Ward, David & Kirmess, Melanie
(2017).
The working alliance in stuttering therapy: A neglected variable?
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Feiken, Judith & Kirmess, Melanie
(2017).
Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS) -
A type of kinetic Apraxia of Speech (AOS).
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Winsnes, Ingvild Elisabeth; Øra, Hege Prag; Kirmess, Melanie & Becker, Frank
(2017).
Aphasia telerehabilitation - A digital enterprise (experience from the SLT intervention).
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Øra, Hege Prag; Kirmess, Melanie; Bergersen, Hilde; Winsnes, Ingvild Elisabeth; Erlenkamp, Sonja & Myklebost, Marthe Brurok
[Show all 7 contributors for this article]
(2017).
Evidence-based aphasia rehabilitation guidelines - Multidisciplinary implementation through an E-learning program.
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Aven, Synne L.; Sortland, Ida Gaarder; Hansen, Silje M. & Kirmess, Melanie
(2017).
How did you like to participate in the SunCIST program - and was it useful?
Show summary
Background and Aims:
In general, there is still a lack of acknowledged recommendations concerning the effectiveness of aphasia rehabilitation programs, whereas constrained induced language therapy has been described as one of the positive trends in several Chochrane-reviews. Sunnaas rehabilitation hospital offers a 3-week intensive aphasia program based on the principles of CILT within a holistic, multi-disciplinary group setting, called SunCIST. Intervention outcomes are usually presented by various forms of test results, whereas there seems to be distinctly fewer reports of user evaluation of the meaningfulness of aphasia programs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the evaluation by the person with aphasia (PWA) themselves who had participated in the SunCIST program.
Methods:
As part of the assessment battery, all SunCIST participants are asked to evaluate the SunCIST program by the end of the intervention period. The evaluation form consists of four open ended questions for an overall impression, as well as 14 questions with a 5-point Likert-scale choice for detailed feedback on subjects as content, picture material, intensity, usefulness, tiredness etc. The evaluation form is provided in an aphasia friendly format, with illustrating pictures and all possibilities for support by the SLP in order to promote a response by the PWA. Data analyses included both quantitative and qualitative data. The main focus of this presentation is on the qualitative data from the open ended questions.
Results: The study included evaluation forms from a 4 year period, in total from 95 PWA, aged 22-78 years (M=57.6) with varying degrees of aphasia from severe to mild. Time post onset varied from 4 months to 34 years (M=4.4 years, SD =5.8). The majority of the participants were generally satisfied and reported overall positive feedback to the SunCIST program. Preliminary data analyses point to few significant differences between participants; however there are tendencies that women, the oldest participants, and PWAs after cerebral insults report a higher degree of satisfaction. Interestingly, there is no strong correlation in satisfaction and meaningfulness of the program connected to the changes in language test outcomes pre to post test.
Discussion: The main critical point of the analysed data concerns the data collection by the treating SLP and incomplete answers.
Conclusions: SunCIST receives generally a high score on satisfaction, with constructive critical comments on improvement concerning as different parts as e.g., the picture material, intensity, and group member’s aphasia severity.
Implications for clinical practice: This is one of the rare studies based on evaluation of an intervention program by the PWA. Hence, it offers relevant insight in how SunCIST fits persons with various degrees of aphasia and gives valuable feedback on which parts of the program that could be even more tailored for individual needs and better outcome. This form of feedback provides thereby the PWA with an important voice for user participation.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2017).
Challenges and examples from measuring treatment outcome following constraint induced language therapy and relating types of aphasia intervention.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2017).
Evidensbasert praksis, PICO-spørsmål, kjernespørsmål - Hvordan påvirker dette din logopediske hverdag?
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Øra, Hege Prag; Kirmess, Melanie; Brady, Marian C.; Winsnes, Ingvild Elisabeth & Becker, Frank
(2016).
Aphasia telerehabilitation early post stroke.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2016).
SunCIST i et brukerperspektiv - Evaluering og tilrettelegging.
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Kirmess, Melanie; Røste, Ingvild & Karlsen, Jannicke
(2016).
Redaktøren har ordet.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
62(2),
p. 3–3.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2016).
Redaktøren har ordet: Logopediens dag fokuserer på verbal dyspraksi.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
62(1),
p. 3–3.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2016).
Sunnaas intensive afasiprogram(SunCIST) i et langtidsperspektiv.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2015).
Praktiske vurderinger rundt afasigrupper basert på constraint induced språkterapi.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2015).
Sunnaas intensive afasitreningsprogram (SunCIST).
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2015).
Constraint induced språkterapi (CIST) - et gruppetilbud for intensiv afasirehabilitering.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2015).
Nettressurser for støttet samtale for afasirammede.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
61(4),
p. 38–40.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2015).
Revisjon av Nasjonal retningslinje for behandling og rehabilitering av hjerneslag. Referat fra møte i referansegruppen.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
61(4),
p. 36–37.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2015).
Redaktøren har ordet.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
61(4),
p. 3–3.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2015).
Kildebruk.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
61(3),
p. 3–3.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2015).
Skattekisten: Intervju med Liv Stabell Kulø.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
61(2),
p. 20–22.
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Kirmess, Melanie; Røste, Ingvild & Vøyne, Jannicke
(2015).
Referat: Norsk logopedlagets vinterkurs.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
61(2),
p. 10–14.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2015).
Redaktøren har ordet.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
61(2),
p. 3–3.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2015).
Disputas Marianne Klem.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
61(1),
p. 44–45.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2015).
Kompetanse og veiledning.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
61(1),
p. 3–3.
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Kirmess, Melanie; Heiberg, Ellen; Kjeldaas, Hege; Krohn, Silje & Wennberg, Ulrika
(2015).
The long term outcome of the SunCIST program.
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Erlenkamp, Sonja; Kirmess, Melanie; Bergersen, Hilde; Audestad, Solveig & Becker, Frank
(2015).
Promoting evidence-based aphasia rehabilitation – guidelines at Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2014).
Bokanmeldelse: Klinisk forskningsmetode for
logopeder og audiopedagoger.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
60(2),
p. 44–45.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2014).
Bokanmeldelse: Evidensbasert praksis i logopedi.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
60(2),
p. 42–43.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2014).
Logopedisk tips 1 "Støttet samtale".
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
60(4),
p. 42–42.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2014).
Disputas Jannicke Karlsen.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
60(4),
p. 40–41.
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Kirmess, Melanie & Hansen, Silje Merethe
(2014).
Referat: Afasidagene 13. og 14. november 2014.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
60(4),
p. 36–38.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2014).
Logopeden – hvem er du og hvor vil du?
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
60(4),
p. 3–3.
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Kirmess, Melanie; Vøyne, Jannicke & Røste, Ingvild
(2014).
Referat: Norsk logopedlagets etterutdanningskurs og landsmøte 2014.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
60(3),
p. 32–37.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2014).
Høsttakk.
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
ISSN 0332-7256.
60(3),
p. 3–3.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2014).
Språktrening døgnet rundt. Kommunikasjon og rehabilitering i hverdagen.
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Kirmess, Melanie
(2014).
Constraint induced language therapy for aphasia rehabilitation. The SunCIST program.
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Kirmess, Melanie; Nordli, Heidi & Becker, Frank
(2014).
”Kan man være for god for deltakelse på CIST?” –
Erfaringer fra Sunnaas intensive afasitilbud (SunCIST) for godt fungerende afasirammede.
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Kirmess, Melanie & Becker, Frank
(2013).
From Word Level Training to Social Conversation – Experience from an Intensive Group Program for Persons with Mild to Moderate Aphasia.
Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences.
ISSN 1877-0428.
94,
p. 267–268.
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Ingebretsen, Silje Merethe Hansen; Kirmess, Melanie & Stubberud, Jan Egil
(2023).
Treatment of social communication difficulties following acquired brain injury: Efficacy of Group Interactive Structured Treatment.
Universitetet i Oslo.
Show summary
The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the efficacy of Group Interactive Structured Treatment (GIST) for persons with social communication difficulties (SCDs) after acquired brain injury (ABI). The study included a wider sample than previous studies (including traumatic brain injury, stroke, brain tumor and anoxic brain injury), and examined the effect across delivery formats by comparing the treatment given in two different ways. Standard GIST was given in an outpatient setting once a week, while a newly adapted intensive GIST was given as a four-week inpatient group treatment at Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital. The study design is a two-arm RCT with a waiting list control group and repeated measures. Forty-nine pairs of participants, consisting of persons with SCDs and ABI and one of their family members/friends were randomly allocated to the two treatment arms. The results were examined from several perspectives and included reports from people with social communication difficulties and their family members/friends. After the two treatments, the subjects with social communication difficulties reported a trend of improved social communication skills on the primary outcome measure (La Trobe Communication Questionnaire [LCQ]) and a significant improvement on the secondary outcome measure (Social Communication Skills Questionnaire-Adapted [SCSQ-A]) when compared to the waiting list control group. Significant improvement over time was reported after both treatments (standard and intensive GIST) and there were no reported differences in outcomes between the two treatments. The findings were confirmed by reports from family members/friends. However, this study had a small sample (n = 49), and further investigations that include a larger sample and objective outcome measures are warranted. The results from this study and the information presented in this thesis have the potential to influence clinical practice in Norway, and have a significant clinical impact on the treatment of SCDs as the findings validate a Norwegian version of the GIST for clinical use. By focusing on the efficacy of treatment for SCDs and ABI, and the delivery and dosage of GIST, this thesis addresses some key research gaps in the field. The inpatient delivery of intensive GIST might not be transferable to all healthcare systems, especially those where inpatient treatment in the chronic phase is not available. However, our findings provide further validation of GIST and its components and highlight new research questions for further investigation, such as the importance of the components and intensity of GIST.