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Department of Clinical Neuroscience
Division of Insurance Medicine
Curriculum Vitae, Richard Bränström
Address:
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Berzelius
väg 3, floor 6, 171 77 Stockholm
Phone and E-mail: +46 76 811 17 21; [email protected]
Courses and degrees
2012-10-01 Associate Professor in Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet
2003-09-26 PhD in Clinical Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet.
2002-09-21 Clinical training and License as Clinical Psychologist
1998-06-20 Master of Science in Psychology, Uppsala University
Doctoral degree
Year: 2003; Subject: Clinical Epidemiology; Title: Skin Cancer Prevention - Behaviours
Related to Sun Exposure and Early Detection; Institution: Karolinska Institutet; Main
Supervisor: Yvonne Brandberg; Co-supervisor: Henrik Ullén. Link to thesis:
http://hdl.handle.net/10616/38973
Postdoctoral appointments
Time period: Sep 2007 - Sep 2008; Institution: University of California San Francisco (UCSF);
Department: Department of Psychiatry, Health Psychology section; Supervisors: Judith
Moskowitz and Ricardo Muñoz.
Associate professor (Docent-level competence)
Year: 2012; Subject: Public Health Sciences; Institution: Department of Public Health
Sciences, Karolinska Institutet.
Current position
Since October 2013
Since October 2012
Analyst, Public Health Agency of Sweden. Main responsibilities
are epidemiological surveillance and analysis.
Associate Professor and Researcher, Department of Clinical
Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet. Main responsibilities are
research and teaching in the field of public health epidemiology
and health psychology.
Previous positions
Sep 2008 – Sep 2012
Assistant professor/postdoctoral research fellow in health care
science, Department of oncology-pathology, Karolinska Institutet.
Sep 2007 – Sep 2008
Visiting research scholar at University of California San Francisco
(UCSF) department of Health Psychology, participated in the
postdoctoral program: Psychology and Medicine: Translational
research on Stress, Behavior and Disease.
Public health planning officer, Swedish National Institute of Public
Health.
Sep 2002 – Sep 2007
Postal address
Karolinska Institutet
Division of Insurance Medicine
SE-171 77 Stockholm
Sweden
Visiting address
Berzelius väg 3, 6th floor
Telephone
+46 768 111 721
Email: [email protected]
Web
ki.se/im
Page:
Subjective area competence
My main subject of knowledge is in the field of epidemiology, psychological theory, and
research methodology as applied in the public health sciences. In particular, epidemiological
analysis, health psychology, biostatistics, prevention, and research design. My research
focus concerns analyses of inequalities in health, evaluation of internet-based interventions
for behavior change and stress-reduction, and surveillance of health determinants in the
general population.
Scientific collaborations
Sexual and Gender Minority Health – A European wide initiative with the aim to: increase
knowledge on sexual and gender minority populations differences in health and health care
in Europe; promote monitoring of health disparities among LGBT populations; explore the
underlying mechanisms and reasons for health disparities in this group; spread knowledge
on sexual and gender minority populations differences in health and health care; and
promote the development of interventions that aim to tackle these differences.
Melanoma Genetics Consortium, GenoMEL - The Melanoma Genetics Consortium,
GenoMEL, is an international consortium with members from 11 European countries,
Canada, Australia, Israel and the USA. The collaboration was initiated in 2003 and in 2005
the consortium received extensive funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework
Program (FP7). Since December 2005, I have been responsible for the behavioral research
endeavors within the consortia. I have had the main responsibility for conducting a large
scale international collection of behavioral data relevant for melanoma development,
prevention and detection in 12 countries, and the analysis and reporting.
Scientific publications
Bibliometric parameters
Total number of published original articles: 37
Number of original articles as first author: 25
Total number of submitted original articles under review: 3
Total number of other publications: 14
Total number of citations: 495
List of all original works
1. Bränström R, van der Star A. More knowledge and research concerning the health of
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals is needed. Eur J Public Health. 2015
Sep 4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26342132
2. Bränström R, Hatzenbuehler ML, Pachankis JE. Sexual orientation disparities in physical
health: Age and gender effects in a population-based study. Accepted for publication in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.
3. van der Star, A. and Bränström R. Acceptance of sexual minorities and the mediating
role of social capital on health and well-being among members of same-sex and
opposite-sex couples across Europe. BMC Public Health 2015; 15:812.
4. Bränström R, Petersson LM, Saboonchi F, Wennman-Larsen A, Alexanderson K. Physical
activity following a breast cancer diagnosis: Implications for self-rated health and
cancer-related symptoms. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2015 Jun 4. [Epub ahead of print]
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5. Kvillemo P, Bränström R. Coping with Breast Cancer: a Meta-Analysis. PlosOne 2014
Nov 25;9(11):e112733.
6. Saboonchi F, Lena-Marie Petersson, Agneta Wennman-Larsen, Kristina Alexanderson,
Richard Bränström, Marjan Vaez. Changes in caseness of anxiety and depression in
breast cancer patients during the first year following surgery: Patterns of transiency
and severity of the distress response. European Journal of Oncology Nursing 2014;
Published Online: July 02.
7. Bränström R, Arrelöv B, Gustavsson C, Kjeldgård L, Ljungquist T, Nilsson GH,
Alexanderson K. Sickness certification at oncology clinics: perceived problems, support,
need for education, and reasons for certifying unnecessarily long sickness absences.
European Journal of Cancer Care 2014 Jan;23(1):89-97. doi: 10.1111/ecc.12104.
8. Bränström R. Frequency of Positive States of Mind as a Moderator of the Effects of
Stress on Psychological Functioning and Perceived Health. BMC Psychology 2013, 1:13
doi: 10.1186/2050-7283-1-13.
9. Bränström R, van der Star A. All inclusive Public Health – what about LGBT populations?
European Journal of Public Health 2013 Jun;23(3):353-4. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckt054.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23704057
10. Bränström R, Arrelöv B, Gustavsson C, Kjeldgård L, Ljungquist T, Nilsson GH,
Alexanderson K. Reasons for and factors associated with issuing sickness certificates for
longer periods than necessary: results from a nationwide survey of physicians. BMC
Public Health 2013 13:478. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-478.
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/13/478
11. Gustavsson C, Kjeldgård L, Bränström R, Lindholm C, Ljungquist T, Nilsson GH,
Alexanderson K. Problems experienced by gynecologists/obstetricians in sickness
certification consultations. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 2013 May 10. doi:
10.1111/aogs.12169 [Epub ahead of print].
12. Bränström R, Kvillemo P, Åkerstedt T. Effects of mindfulness training on levels of
cortisol in cancer patients. Psychosomatics, 2013 Mar;54(2):158-64. PMID: 23218058.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23218058
13. Kasparian NA, Bränström R, Chang Y, Affleck P, Tibben A, Aspinwall LG, Azizi E, BaronEpel O, Battistuzzi L, Bergman W, Bruno W, Chan M, Cuellar F, Dębniak T, Pjanova D,
Ertmański S, Figl A, Gonzalez M, Hayward NK, Hocevar M, Kanetsky PA, Leachman SA,
Heisele O, Palmer J, Peric B, Puig S, Schadendorf D, Gruis NA, Newton-Bishop J,
Brandberg, Y. Skin examination behavior: The role of skin cancer history, risk
perceptions and skin cancer-related worry in determining physician- and selfconducted skin examination. Archives of Dermatology 2012 Jul 16:1-10. PMID:
22801744. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22801744
14. Bränström R, Kasparian NA, Affleck P, Tibben A, Chang YM, Azizi E, Baron-Epel O,
Bergman W, Chan M, Davies J, Ingvar C, Kanetsky PA, Leeuwen EV, Olsson H, Gruis NA,
Brandberg Y, Newton-Bishop J. Perceptions of genetic research and testing among
members of families with an increased risk of malignant melanoma. European Journal
of Cancer 2012 Nov;48(16):3052-62. PMID: 22726816.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22726816
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15. Hult JR, Wrubel J, Bränström R, Acree M, Moskowitz JT. Disclosure and Nondisclosure
Among People Newly Diagnosed with HIV: An Analysis from a Stress and Coping
Perspective. AIDS patient care and STDs 2012 Mar;26(3):181-90.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22256856
16. Bränström R, Kvillemo P, Moskowitz J. A Randomized Study of the Effects of
Mindfulness Training on Psychological Well-being and Symptoms of Stress in Patients
Treated for Cancer at 6-month Follow-up. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
2012 Dec;19(4):535-42. PMID: 21931958.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21931958
17. Bränström, R, Duncan, L & Moskowitz, JT. The association between dispositional
mindfulness, psychological well-being and perceived health in a Swedish populationbased sample. British Journal of Health Psychology 2011 May;16(Pt 2):300-16. PMID:
20423556. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21489058
18. Kvillemo P, Bränström R. Cancer Patients’ Experiences of a Mindfulness Based Stress
Reduction Intervention. Cancer Nursing 2011 Jan-Feb;34(1):24-31. PMID: 20555256.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20555256
19. Bränström R, Kasparian NA, Chang Y, Affleck P, Tibben A, Aspinwall LG, Azizi E, BaronEpel O, Battistuzzi L, Bergman W, Bruno W, Chan M, Cuellar F, Dębniak T, Pjanova D,
Ertmański S, Figl A, Gonzalez M, Hayward NK, Hocevar M, Kanetsky PA, Leachman SA,
Heisele O, Palmer J, Peric B, Puig S, Schadendorf D, Gruis NA, Newton-Bishop J,
Brandberg, Y. Predictors of Sun Protection Behaviours and Severe Sunburn in an
International on-line study. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention 2010
Sep;19(9):2199-210. PMID: 20643826.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20643826
20. Bränström R, Penilla C, Pérez-Stable EJ & Muñoz RF. Positive Affect and Mood
Management in Successful Smoking Cessation: Results from an Internet Based
Intervention. American Journal of Health Behavior 2010;34(5):553-562. PMID:
20524885. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20524885
21. Bränström R, Kvillemo P, Brandberg Y, Moskowitz J: Self-report Mindfulness as a
Mediator of Psychological Wellbeing in a Stress Reduction Intervention for Cancer
Patients - a randomized study. Annals of Behavioral Medicine 2010 May;39(2):151-61.
PMID: 20177843.
22. Bränström R, Chang Y-M, Kasparian N, Affleck P, Tibben A, Aspinwall LG, Azizi E, BaronEpel O, Battistuzzi L, Bruno W, Chan M, Cuellar F, Dębniak T, Pjanova D, Ertmański S,
Figl A, Gonzalez M, Hayward NK, Hocevar M, Kanetsky PA, Leaf SL, van Nieuwpoort FA,
Heisele O, Palmer J, Peric B, Puig S, Ruffin AD, Schadendorf D, Gruis NA, Brandberg Y &
Newton-Bishop J. Melanoma Risk Factors, Perceived Threat and Intentional Tanning:
An International Online Survey. European Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2010
May;19(3):216-26. PMID: 20093934. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20093934
23. Bränström R & Brandberg Y. Health Risk Perception, Optimism and Self-Esteem in the
Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood. American Journal of Health Behavior 2010;
34(2):197-205. PMID: 19814599. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19814599
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24. Skärstrand, E, Bränström, R, Sundell, K, Källmén, H & Andréasson, S. Parental
participation and retention in an alcohol preventive family-focused programme. Health
Education 2009;109(5):384-395.
25. Bränström R & Andréasson S. Regional differences in alcohol consumption, alcohol
addiction and drug use among Swedish adults. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health,
2008;36(5):493-503. PMID: 18635732.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18635732
26. Bränström R, Sjöström E & Andréasson S. Individual, family, school, and community risk
and protective factors for alcohol and drug use among Swedish adolescents. European
Journal of Public Health 2008;18(1):12-8. PMID: 17522153.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17522153
27. Andréasson, S, Sjöström E & Bränström R. A six community prevention trial to reduce
alcohol and drugs related problems in Sweden. Substance Use and Misuse 2007;42(1213):2017-27. PMID: 18075925. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18075925
28. Bränström R, Kristjansson S, Dal H & Rodvall Y. Sun exposure and sunburn among
Swedish toddlers. European Journal of Cancer 2006; 42:1441-1447. PMID: 16737807.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16737807
29. Bränström R, Kristjansson, S & Ullén H. Risk perception, optimistic bias, and readiness
to change sun related behaviour. European Journal of Public Health 2005; Sep 29.
PMID: 16195355. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16195355
30. Bränström R, Ullén H & Brandberg Y. Attitudes, social norms and perception of
behavioural control as predictors of sun related behaviour in Swedish adolescents.
Preventive Medicine 2004;39:992-999. PMID: 15475034.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15475034 *
31. Kristjansson S, Bränström R, Ullén H & Helganson A. Transtheoretical Model: An
Investigation of Adolescent’s Sun-Related Behavior. European Journal of Cancer
Prevention 2003;12(6):501-8. PMID: 14639128.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14639128
32. Bränström R, Ullén H & Brandberg Y. A randomized population-based intervention to
examine the effects of the ultraviolet index on tanning behaviour. European Journal of
Cancer 2003;39:968-974. PMID: 12706366.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12706366 *
33. Bränström R, Hedblad M A, Krakau I, Ullen H. Reasons to seek medical attention for a
skin check-up: the layman’s perspective. European Journal of Public Health
2003;13(4):294-8. PMID: 14703314. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14703314
*
34. Bränström R, Kristjansson S, Ullén H & Brandberg Y. Stability of questionnaire items
measuring behaviors, attitudes and stage of change related to sun exposure.
Melanoma Research 2002;12:513-519. PMID: 12394194.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12394194 *
35. Bränström R, Hedblad M A, Krakau I, Ullen H. Laypersons' perceptual discrimination of
pigmented skin lesions. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2002;46(5 Pt
1):667-73. PMID: 12004305. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12004305 *
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36. Boldeman C, Bränström R, Dal H, Kristjansson S, Rodvall Y, Jansson B & Ullén H.
Tanning habits and sunburn in a Swedish population age 13-50 years. European Journal
of Cancer 2001;37(18):2441-8. PMID: 11720841.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11720841
37. Bränström R, Brandberg Y, Holm L-E, Sjöberg L & Ullén H. Beliefs, knowledge and
attitudes as predictors of sunbathing habits and use of sun protection among Swedish
adolescents. European Journal of Cancer Prevention 2001;10(4). PMID: 11535876.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11535876 *
* Publications part of PhD-thesis.
List of general articles and book chapters
Bränström R. Meditationsprogram vid ohälsa för att motverka stress och öka
välbefinnandet. SBU Kommenterar, SBU, Stockholm, Sweden, 2014.
Bränström R. Health Risk Appraisal and Optimistic Bias. In International Encyclopedia of the
Social & Behavioral Sciences. Elsevier Science Ltd, 2014.
Bränström R & Duncan L. Mindfulness and Balanced Positive Emotion. In The Light and
Dark Sides of Positive Emotion. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013.
Bränström R. Effect of Mindfulness-based Interventions in Cancer Care. In Evidence-based
Non-pharmacological Therapies for Palliative Cancer Care. New York: Springer, 2013.
Bränström R. Familjer med ökad risk för malignt melanom – syn på genetisk forskning och
genetisk testning. BestPractice Dermatologi 2013. Nr. 10.
Alexanderson K, Arrelöv B, Bränström R, Gustavsson C, Hinas E, Kjeldgård L, Ljungquist T,
Nilsson G. Läkares erfarenheter av arbete med sjukskrivning, 2013. Sektionen för
försäkringsmedicin, Institutionen för klinisk neurovetenskap, Karolinska institutet.
Bränström R. Meditation ökar välbefinnandet för cancerpatienter. Läkartidningen, nr. 1
2011.
Bränström R. Behavioural Aspects of Prevention and Early Detection. In Skin Cancer
Prevention. New York: Informa Health Care, 2006.
Bränström R. Media advocacy i lokalt alkohol- och narkotikaförebyggande arbete, Statens
folkhälsoinstitut, 2006.
Kvillemo P, Bränström R, Sjöström E & Andréasson S. Uppföljning av den nationella
handlingsplanen för att förebygga alkoholskador 2001−2005: Slutredovisning av
regeringsuppdrag, Statens folkhälsoinstitut, 2006.
Bränström R. Effekter av kunskapsspridning kring förebyggande insatser mot riskfylld
alkoholkonsumtion på vårdcentraler i Stockholm. STAD – sektionen, Beroendecentrum,
Stockholms läns landsting, 2006.
Yuen K & Bränstrom R 2006. SSI:s återkommande undersökning om sol och utomhusvanor
– enkät: UV-exponeringsmodell och analys av data från 2005. Statens strålskyddsinstitut.
Bränström R, Sjöström E & Andréasson S 2004. Att utveckla lokalt alkohol- och
narkotikaförebyggande arbete – sex försökskommuner i samverkan med
Alkoholkommittén, Mobilisering mot narkotika och Statens folkhälsoinstitut, Statens
folkhälsoinstitut.
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Allebäck P, Andréasson S, Bränström R, Leifman H, Ramstedt M & Romelsjö A 2004.
Alkoholen i Stockholm – tillgänglighet, konsumtion och skador, Samhällsmedicin,
Stockholms läns landsting.
Bränström R & Brandberg Y 2002. Behavioural aspects on prevention of malignant skin
tumours, Statens strålskyddsinstitut.
Ullén H, Boldeman C, Bränström R, Dal H, Kristjansson S 2001. Solvanor och hudcancer – en
interventionsplan, Samhällsmedicin, Stockholms läns landsting.
Bränström R, Dal H & Ullén H 2001. TAGE – Ett utbildningsprojekt om hudcancer i
primärvården. Samhällsmedicin, Stockholms läns landsting.
International scientific works
Invited speaker or chair
Bränström R. Chair during session: ”Effects of Health and Disease” at the 13th European
Congress of Psychology (ECP 2013), held in Stockholm on 9-12 July 2013.
Bränström R. ”Varför gör inte folk som vi säger? Exemplet solning och hudcancer”.
Seminar at the Cancer Society on World Cancer Day, 2007.
Bränström R. ”Effekter av mindfulnessmeditation och stresshantering vid cancersjukdom”.
Seminar at the Osher centrum for integrative medicine Karolinska institutet, 2007.
Bränström R. Melanoma Risk Factors, Perceived Threat and Intentional Tanning: Results
From an International Online Survey. Annual Meeting of the Melanoma Genetics
Consortium, Lund 2007.
Bränström R. Predictors of Sun Protection Behaviours and Severe Sunburn in an
International on-line study. Annual Meeting of the Melanoma Genetics Consortium, Paris
2008.
Bränström R. Skin examination behavior: The role of skin cancer history, risk perceptions
and skin cancer-related worry in determining physician- and self-conducted skin
examination. Annual Meeting of the Melanoma Genetics Consortium, Ljubljana 2009.
Bränström R. Thoughts and perceptions regarding genetic research and testing among
members of families with an increased risk of malignant melanoma. Annual Meeting of the
Melanoma Genetics Consortium, Leeds 2010.
Oral presentation of own accepted abstracts
Bränström R, Pachankis JE, Hatzenbuehler ML. Differences in physical and mental health
status between sexual minorities (homo- and bisexuals) and heterosexuals in a Swedish
population-based sample – at the 7th European Health Conference (EUPHA 2014), held in
Glasgow on 20-22 November 2014.
Bränström R, Kvillemo P 2013. What Works in Coping With Cancer? A Meta-Analysis
among Patients with Breast Cancer – at the 13th European Congress of Psychology (ECP
2013), held in Stockholm on 9-12 July 2013.
Bränström R, Duncan L 2013. Mindfulness and Balanced Positive Emotion – A Proposed
Framework – at the First International Conference on Mindfulness, Rome, Italy.
Bränström R, Kvillemo, P, Brandberg, Y & Moskowitz, JT 2010. Effects of Mindfulness
training on Psychological Well-being and Symptoms of Stress in Cancer Patients at 6-month
th
follow-up – at The 11 International Congress of Behavioral Medicine, Washington, USA.
Bränström, R, Kasparian, N, Newton-Bishop, J, Chang, R, Affleck, P & Brandberg, B 2009.
Predictors of Sun Protection Behaviours in a global population based sample – at the 7th
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World Congress on Melanoma and the 5th Congress of the European Association of
Dermato-Oncology(EADO), Vienna, Austria.
Bränström, R, Kvillemo, P, Brandberg, Y & Moskowitz, JT 2009. Mindfulness as a Mediator
of Psychological Wellbeing in a Stress Reduction Intervention for Cancer Patients – Report
from a Randomized Study – at the 31th Annual Meeting of the Society for Behavioral
Medicine, Montreal, Canada.
Bränström R, Sjöström E & Andréasson S 2005. Local Development of Alcohol
Consumption, Alcohol Related Illness and Injuries, and Prevention Activity: an Internet
th
Based Presentation System as a Tool for Prevention – at The 6 European Conference on
the Effectiveness and Quality of Health Promotion: Evidence for practice, Stockholm,
Sweden.
Bränström R, Sjöström E & Andréasson S 2004. A Community Prevention Trial to Reduce
th
Alcohol and Drug Related Problems in Sweden – at The 8 International Congress of
Behavioral Medicine, Mainz, Germany.
Bränström R, Brandberg Y & Ullén H 2002. A Population-based Intervention to Examine
th
the Effects of the UV Index on Tanning Behaviour – The 18 UICC International Cancer
Congress, Oslo, Norway.
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