Dr Fred Arne Thorberg
Institute of Health Biomedical Innovation (IHBI),
IHBI Health Projects,
IHBI Psych and Counc - HDHS
Biography
Dr. Thorberg is a Visiting Fellow and Psychologist in the School of Psychology and Counselling. His main area of research interest is in alexithymia, emotion regulation difficulties, attachment, mindfulness, neuroscience and intervention studies for people with substance use problems and disorders. He is very passionate about improving the well-being and quality of life for people with substance misuse.
He has previously worked as a Visiting Professor at Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). He currently holds affiliations as a Visiting Researcher in the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), he is an Honorary Adjunct Assistant Professor at Bond University, Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland, Senior Visiting Fellow at the University of Oslo (Norway) and is employed as a Senior Research Fellow and Consultant at the National Centre for Dual Diagnosis at Innlandet Hospital Trust (Norway).
Dr. Thorberg has an extensive international collaborative network of clinicians and researchers across Australia (QUT, UQ, Queensland Health, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Curtin University, Bond University), Norway (University of Oslo, Innlandet Hospital Trust), United Kingdom (York St. John University, Derby University), Thailand (Khon Kaen University, Chulalongkorn University), Japan (Kwansei Gakuin University, Kagawa Nutrition University), Canada (UBC) and the United States (UCLA, UCSB).
He is currently heading a large international research project on alexithymia and alcohol use disorders across Australia and Norway also involving the USA. He has been Chief Investigator and Project Leader on 4 peer-reviewed international grants, including funding from the Regional Health Authority of Norway, Norwegian Extra Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation and Innlandet Hospital Trust.
He has over 40 publications including 37 peer reviewed articles, conference papers, reports and presented at numerous conferences worldwide.
Dr. Thorberg has worked clinically with people with substance use disorders, eating disorders and other issues both in private practice as well as at Drug Treatment Rehabilitation Centres in Australia and internationally.
Personal details
Positions
- IHBI Membership
Institute of Health Biomedical Innovation (IHBI),
IHBI Health Projects,
IHBI Psych and Counc - HDHS
Keywords
Alexithymia, Substance use disorders, Alcohol, Emotion regulation, Addiction, Mindfulness, Craving, Attachment, Compassion
Discipline
Psychology, Public Health and Health Services
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2008
Qualifications
- PhD (Queensland University of Technology)
- Masters (Bond University)
Professional memberships and associations
- Member - Australian Psychological Society
- International Affiliate - American Psychological Association (Division - 50 Addiction Psychology)
- Member - Compassionate Mind Foundation UK
- Registered Psychologist
Experience
- Developed multidisciplinary youth substance abuse collaborations between QUT and UQ, with an emphasis on Technology, Injury Prevention and Mental Health.
- Consultant for Alcohol and Drug Treatment Rehabilitation Centres in Norway
- Involved in the implementation of the Norwegian National Guideline for Dual Diagnosis.
- Worked with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD and other behavioural problems.
- Taught at Primary and Secondary Schools in Norway.
- Marketing and consulting the IT industry in the private sector.
Previous Volunteer Service:
- Gold Coast Eating Disorder Association.
Publications
- Thorberg F, Young R, Sullivan K, Lyvers M, Hurst C, Connor J, Tyssen R, London E, Noble E, Feeney G, (2016) A longitudinal mediational study of the stability of alexithymia among alcohol-dependent outpatients in cognitive-behavioural therapy, Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 30 (1) p64
- Thorberg F, Young R, Lyvers M, Sullivan K, Hasking P, London E, Tyssen R, Connor J, Feeney G, (2016) Alexithymia in relation to alcohol expectancies in alcohol-dependent outpatients, Psychiatry Research, 236 () p186
- Thorberg F, Young R, Sullivan K, Lyvers M, Hurst C, Tyssen R, Connor J, Feeney G, (2013) A confirmatory factor analysis of the Observer Alexithymia Scale in treatment seeking alcohol-dependent patients, Journal of Substance Use, 18 (6) p492
- Thorberg F, Young R, Sullivan K, Lyvers M, Connor J, Feeney G, (2011) Alexithymia, craving and attachment in a heavy drinking population, Addictive Behaviors, 36 (4) p427
- Thorberg F, Young R, Sullivan K, Lyvers M, (2011) Parental bonding and alexithymia: A meta-analysis, European Psychiatry, 26 (3) p187
- Thorberg F, Young R, Sullivan K, Lyvers M, Connor J, Feeney G, (2010) A psychometric comparison of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Observer Alexithymia Scale (OAS) in an alcohol-dependent sample, Personality and Individual Differences, 49 (2) p119
- Thorberg F, Lyvers M, (2010) Attachment in relation to affect regulation and interpersonal functioning among substance use disorder inpatients, Addiction Research and Theory, 18 (4) p464
- Thorberg F, Young R, Sullivan K, Lyvers M, (2009) Alexithymia and alcohol use disorders: A critical review, Addictive Behaviors, 34 (3) p237
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Fred Arne, explore their research on ePrints (our digital repository).
Awards
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2016
- Details
- College of Problems on Drug Dependence Travel Award for Early Career Investigators
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2014
- Details
- Most cited Addictive Behaviors Articles since 2009: Thorberg, F. A., Young, R. McD., Sullivan, K. A., & Lyvers, M. (2009). Alexithymia and Alcohol Use Disorders: A Critical Review
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2013
- Details
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Early Career Psychologist Travel Award
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2013
- Details
- American Psychological Association - Division 50 (Society of Addiction Psychology) - Outstanding Early Career Presentation Award
- Type
- International Collaboration
- Reference year
- 2010
- Details
- Ongoing collaboration with Prof. Edythe D. London's laboratory of Molecular Neuroimaging, at Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). This has so far led to 5 conference presentations, 3 peer reviewed articles, 2 articles under review and another 2 forthcoming. Prof. London is an internationally recognized expert in the study of drug addiction and pioneered the application of brain imaging to the study of substance abuse.
The collaboration with Prof. Reidar Tyssen at the Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine at the University of Oslo has so far resulted in 8 conference presentations, 3 peer reviewed articles and competitive international research funding. Prof. Tyssen is Department Chair and heading an ongoing 25-year Longitudinal Study of Norwegian Medical Students and Doctors (NORDOC), including over a 1000 participants.