Emma Björkenstam

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About me

PhD in Epidemiology and member of the research group MENTE (Mental Health and Social Integration).
I have a background in psychiatric and social epidemiology, public health, pharmacoepidemiology and statistics. My research interests include among
others the health and social consequences following exposure to early life adversity. My research involves large-scale population studies, used to
investigate links between adversities occurring in different sensitive childhood periods, the mediating role of factors in adolescence, and subsequent mental health, and also the role of parental socioeconomic factors.

Articles

Article: SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY. 2025;60(6):1421-1435
Trajectories of work disability and unemployment before and after a common mental disorder diagnosis among young private sector employees in Sweden-a register-based longitudinal study
Amin R; Bjorkenstam E; Helgesson M; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE. 2024;54(16):1-11
Labor market marginalization in individuals with bipolar disorder: a Swedish nationwide register-based sibling comparison study
Armannsdottir B; Taipale H; Akhtar A; Kautzky A; Bjorkenstam E; Lieslehto J; Tiihonen J; Amin R; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE. 2024;54(1):148-158
Labour market integration among young adults diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at working age
Chen L; Mittendorfer-Rutz E; Bjorkenstam E; Rahman S; Gustafsson K; Kjeldgard L; Ekselius L; Taipale H; Tanskanen A; Helgesson M
Article: SSM-POPULATION HEALTH. 2023;23:101444
Sustainable labour market participation among working young adults with diagnosed attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Helgesson M; Kjeldgard L; Bjorkenstam E; Rahman S; Gustafsson K; Taipale H; Tanskanen A; Ekselius L; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2023;51(3):391-402
Differences in labour market marginalisation between refugees, non-refugee immigrants and Swedish-born youth: Role of age at arrival and residency duration
Geirsdottir G; Mittendorfer-Rutz E; Bjorkenstam E; Chen L; Dorner TE; Amin R
Article: FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY. 2023;14:1152286
The role of sociodemographic and clinical factors in the initiation and discontinuation of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medication among young adults in Sweden
Gemes K; Taipale H; Bjorkenstam E; Rahman S; Gustafsson K; Tanskanen A; Ekselius L; Mittendorfer-Rutz E; Helgesson M
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2023;33(2):272-278
Time period effects in work disability due to common mental disorders among young employees in Sweden-a register-based cohort study across occupational classes and employment sectors
Amin R; Mittendorfer-Rutz E; Bjorkenstam E; Virtanen M; Helgesson M; Gustafsson N; Rahman S
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2023;33(2):264-271
Childhood adversity and risk of later labor market marginalization in young employees in Sweden
Bjoerkenstam E; Helgesson M; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE. 2023;53(4):1224-1232
Labour market marginalisation in young adults diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a population-based longitudinal cohort study in Sweden
Helgesson M; Bjorkenstam E; Rahman S; Gustafsson K; Taipale H; Tanskanen A; Ekselius L; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: PLOS ONE. 2022;17(12):e0279096
Differences in all-cause and cause-specific mortality due to external causes and suicide between young adult refugees, non-refugee immigrants and Swedish-born young adults: The role of education and migration-related factors
Stratmann M; Bjorkenstam E; Dorner TE; Chen L; Helgesson M; Cullen AE; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER AND EMOTION DYSREGULATION. 2022;9(1):25
Effect of comorbid ADHD on mortality in women with borderline personality disorder
Kouppis E; Gerdin B; Bjorkenstam C; Bjorkenstam E; Ekselius L
Article: BMC PSYCHIATRY. 2022;22(1):633
Resilience of people with chronic medical conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic: a 1-year longitudinal prospective survey
Tarsitani L; Pinucci I; Tedeschi F; Patane M; Papola D; Palantza C; Acarturk C; Bjorkenstam E; Bryant R; Burchert S; Davisse-Paturet C; Diaz-Garcia A; Farrel R; Fuhr DC; Hall BJ; Huizink AC; Lam AIF; Kurt G; Leijen I; Mittendorfer-Rutz E; Morina N; Panter-Brick C; Purba FD; Quero S; Seedat S; Setyowibowo H; van der Waerden J; Pasquini M; Sijbrandij M; Barbui C
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2022;19(12):7254
Occupational Branch and Labor Market Marginalization among Young Employees with Adult Onset of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-A Population-Based Matched Cohort Study
Gemes K; Bjorkenstam E; Rahman S; Gustafsson K; Taipale H; Tanskanen A; Ekselius L; Mittendorfer-Rutz E; Helgesson M
Article: BMJ OPEN. 2022;12(5):e054351
Mental and somatic disorders and the subsequent risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in refugees, non-refugee migrants and the Swedish-born youth: a population-based cohort study in Sweden
Helgesson M; Bjorkenstam E; Filatova S; Rahman SG; Cullen A; Dorner T; Gemes K; Amin R; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY. 2022;57(5):1097-1106
Sickness absence due to common mental disorders in young employees in Sweden: are there differences in occupational class and employment sector?
Bjorkenstam E; Helgesson M; Gustafsson K; Virtanen M; Hanson LLM; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE. 2022;52(7):1365-1375
Differences in psychiatric care utilization between refugees, non-refugee migrants and Swedish-born youth
Bjorkenstam E; Helgesson M; Norredam M; Sijbrandij M; de Montgomery CJ; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: JOURNAL OF ATTENTION DISORDERS. 2022;26(5):723-734
Risk Factors for Disability Pension among Young Adults Diagnosed with Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Adulthood
Chen L; Mittendorfer-Rutz E; Bjorkenstam E; Rahman S; Gustafsson K; Taipale H; Tanskanen A; Ekselius L; Helgesson M
Article: PLOS ONE. 2022;17(2):e0263450
Labour market marginalisation in young refugees and their majority peers in Denmark and Sweden: The role of common mental disorders and secondary school completion
de Montgomery CJ; Norredam M; Krasnik A; Petersen JH; Bjorkenstam E; Berg L; Hjern A; Sijbrandij M; Klimek P; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY. 2022;57(2):305-317
Trajectories of antidepressant use and characteristics associated with trajectory groups among young refugees and their Swedish-born peers with diagnosed common mental disorders-findings from the REMAIN study
Rahman S; Filatova S; Chen L; Bjorkenstam E; Taipale H; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR. 2021;50(8):3563-3574
Psychological Distress, Suicidal Ideation, and Suicide Attempt Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Immigrants: Population-Based Findings from the Stockholm Public Health Cohort
Clark KA; Bjorkenstam C; Kosidou K; Bjorkenstam E
Article: EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRIC SCIENCES. 2021;30:e67
Trajectories of labour market marginalisation among young adults with newly diagnosed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Helgesson M; Rahman S; Bjorkenstam E; Gustafsson K; Amin R; Taipale H; Tanskanen A; Ekselius L; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRIC SCIENCES. 2021;30:e62
Does country of resettlement influence the risk of suicide in refugees? A case-control study in Sweden and Norway
Amin R; Mittendorfer-Rutz E; Mehlum L; Runeson B; Helgesson M; Tinghog P; Bjorkenstam E; Holmes EA; Qin P
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2021;31(4):809-815
Occupational class and employment sector differences in common mental disorders: a longitudinal Swedish cohort study
Bjorkenstam E; Helgesson M; Gustafsson K; Virtanen M; Hanson LLM; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR EQUITY IN HEALTH. 2021;20(1):131
Trajectories of antidepressant use before and after a suicide attempt among refugees and Swedish-born individuals: a cohort study
Amin R; Rahman S; Helgesson M; Bjorkenstam E; Runeson B; Tinghog P; Mehlum L; Qin P; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY. 2021;56(2):325-338
Healthcare use before and after suicide attempt in refugees and Swedish-born individuals
Amin R; Rahman S; Tinghog P; Helgesson M; Runeson B; Bjorkenstam E; Qin P; Mehlum L; Holmes EA; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY. 2021;56(2):237-246
Childhood adversity and common mental disorders in young employees in Sweden: is the association affected by early adulthood occupational class?
Bjorkenstam E; Helgesson M; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2020;30(6):1169-1175
Country of birth, time period of resettlement and subsequent treated common mental disorders in young refugees in Sweden
Amin R; Rahman S; Dorner TE; Bjorkenstam E; Helgesson M; Norredam ML; Sijbrandij M; Sever CA; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY. 2020;217(6):679-685
Mental disorders, suicide attempt and suicide: differences in the association in refugees compared with Swedish-born individuals
Bjorkenstam E; Helgesson M; Amin R; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: SOCIAL FORCES. 2020;99(2):672-699
Precarious Childhoods: Childhood Family Income Volatility and Mental Health in Early Adulthood
Cheng S; Kosidou K; Burstrom B; Bjorkenstam C; Pebley AR; Bjorkenstam E
Article: BJPSYCH OPEN. 2020;6(5):e95
Childbearing and mortality among women with personality disorders: nationwide registered-based cohort study
Kouppis E; Bjorkenstam C; Gerdin B; Ekselius L; Bjorkenstam E
Article: SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY. 2020;55(8):1061-1071
Mental disorders and suicidal behavior in refugees and Swedish-born individuals: is the association affected by work disability?
Bjorkenstam E; Helgesson M; Amin R; Lange T; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS. 2020;270:189-197
Common mental disorders among young refugees in Sweden: The role of education and duration of residency
Bjorkenstam E; Helgesson M; Norredam M; Sijbrandij M; de Montgomery CJ; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS. 2020;266:563-571
Common mental disorders among young refugees in Sweden: The role of education and duration of residency
Bjorkenstam E; Helgesson M; Norredam M; Sijbrandij M; de Montgomery CJ; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH. 2020;218:124-130
Attention De ficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and risk for non -affective psychotic disorder: The role of ADHD medication and comorbidity, and sibling comparison
Bjoerkenstam E; Pierce M; Bjoerkenstam C; Dalman C; Kosidou K
Article: JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS. 2020;265:263-271
Previous suicide attempt and subsequent risk of re-attempt and suicide: Are there differences in immigrant subgroups compared to Swedish-born individuals?
Niederkrotenthaler T; Mittendorfer-Rutz E; Mehlum L; Qin P; Bjorkenstam E
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2019;29(5):855-861
Cumulative childhood adversity, adolescent psychiatric disorder and violent offending in young adulthood
Bjorkenstam E; Burstrom B; Hjern A; Vinnerljung B; Kosidou K; Berg L
Article: CHILD DEVELOPMENT. 2019;90(4):1097-1108
Parental Sexual Orientation and Children's Psychological Well-Being: 2013-2015 National Health Interview Survey
Calzo JP; Mays VM; Bjorkenstam C; Bjorkenstam E; Kosidou K; Cochran SD
Article: JAMA PSYCHIATRY. 2018;75(2):185-193
Association of Cumulative Childhood Adversity and Adolescent Violent Offending With Suicide in Early Adulthood
Bjorkenstam E; Hjern A; Bjorkenstam C; Kosidou K
Article: PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE. 2018;48(3):498-507
Cumulative exposure to childhood adversity, and treated attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a cohort study of 543 650 adolescents and young adults in Sweden
Bjorkenstam E; Bjorkenstam C; Jablonska B; Kosidou K
Article: JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS. 2017;223:95-100
Impact of childhood adversities on depression in early adulthood: A longitudinal cohort study of 478,141 individuals in Sweden
Bjorkenstama E; Vinnerljung B; Hjern A
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY. 2017;32(8):721-731
Association between childhood adversity and a diagnosis of personality disorder in young adulthood: a cohort study of 107,287 individuals in Stockholm County
Bjorkenstam E; Ekselius L; Burstrom B; Kosidou K; Bjorkenstam C
Article: JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH. 2017;71(7):648-654
Association between income trajectories in childhood and psychiatric disorder: a Swedish population-based study
Bjorkenstam E; Cheng S; Burstrom B; Pebley AR; Bjorkenstam C; Kosidou K
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2017;27(3):472-477
Adverse childhood experiences and disability pension in early midlife: results from a Swedish National Cohort Study
Bjorkenstam E; Hjern A; Vinnerljung B
Article: BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL. 2017;357:j1334
Childhood adversity and risk of suicide: cohort study of 548 721 adolescents and young adults in Sweden
Bjorkenstam C; Kosidou K; Bjorkenstam E
Article: JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS. 2017;212:56-63
Childhood social adversity and risk of depressive symptoms in adolescence in a US national sample
Bjorkenstam E; Pebley AR; Burstrom B; Kosidou K
Article: JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE. 2017;14(3):396-403
Anxiety and Depression Among Sexual Minority Women and Men in Sweden: Is the Risk Equally Spread Within the Sexual Minority Population?
Bjorkenstam C; Bjorkenstam E; Andersson G; Cochran S; Kosidou K
Article: JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH. 2016;83:29-36
Suicide risk and suicide method in patients with personality disorders
Bjorkenstam C; Ekselius L; Berlin M; Gerdin B; Bjorkenstam E
Article: JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH. 2016;70(9):895-901
Self-reported suicide ideation and attempts, and medical care for intentional self-harm in lesbians, gays and bisexuals in Sweden
Bjorkenstam C; Kosidou K; Bjorkenstam E; Dalman C; Andersson G; Cochran S
Article: JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH. 2016;77:67-75
Childhood adversity and psychiatric disorder in young adulthood: An analysis of 107,704 Swedes
Bjorkenstam E; Burstrom B; Vinnerljung B; Kosidou K
Article: JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH. 2016;70(5):473-480
Childhood household dysfunction, school performance and psychiatric care utilisation in young adults: a register study of 96 399 individuals in Stockholm County
Bjorkenstam E; Dalman C; Vinnerljung B; Weitoft GR; Walder DJ; Burstrom B
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY. 2016;45(2):501-511
Childhood household dysfunction and risk of self-harm: a cohort study of 107 518 young adults in Stockholm County
Bjorkenstam E; Kosidou K; Bjorkenstam C
Article: PLOS ONE. 2016;11(3):e0151755
Childhood Household Dysfunction, Social Inequality and Alcohol Related Illness in Young Adulthood. A Swedish National Cohort Study
Gauffin K; Hjern A; Vinnerljung B; Bjorkenstam E
Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2016;44(1):98-105
Occurrence of sickness absence and disability pension in relation to childbirth: A 16-year follow-up study of 6323 Swedish twins
Narusyte J; Bjorkenstam E; Alexanderson K; Roponen A; Kjeldgard L; Svedberg P
Article: SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE. 2015;142:109-117
Cumulative exposure to childhood stressors and subsequent psychological distress. An analysis of US panel data
Bjorkenstam E; Burstrom B; Brannstrom L; Vinnerljung B; Bjorkenstam C; Pebley AR
Article: BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY. 2015;207(4):339-345
Excess cause-specific mortality in in-patient-treated individuals with personality disorder: 25-year nationwide population-based study
Bjorkenstam E; Bjorkenstam C; Holm H; Gerdin B; Ekselius L
Article: BJPSYCH OPEN. 2015;1(1):54-55
Excess cause-specific mortality in out-patients with personality disorder
Bjoerkenstam C; Bjoerkenstam E; Gerdin B; Ekselius L
Article: BMJ OPEN. 2015;5(1):e006033
Childbirth, hospitalisation and sickness absence: a study of female twins
Bjorkenstam E; Alexanderson K; Narusyte J; Kjeldgard L; Ropponen A; Svedberg P
Article: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH. 2014;14:1247
Diagnosis-specific disability pension and risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality - a cohort study of 4.9 million inhabitants in Sweden
Bjorkenstam C; Alexanderson K; Bjorkenstam E; Lindholm C; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH. 2014;157(1-3):1-7
Suicide in first episode psychosis: A nationwide cohort study
Bjorkenstam C; Bjorkenstam E; Hjern A; Boden R; Reutfors J
Article: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH. 2014;14:733
Associations between number of sick-leave days and future all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a population-based cohort study
Bjorkenstam E; Weitoft GR; Lindholm C; Bjorkenstam C; Alexanderson K; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Article: PLOS ONE. 2014;9(7):e101566
Associations between Childbirth, Hospitalization and Disability Pension: A Cohort Study of Female Twins
Bjorkenstam E; Narusyte J; Alexanderson K; Ropponen A; Kjeldgard L; Svedberg P
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY. 2013;59(8):801-804
Risk of new psychiatric episodes in the year following divorce in midlife: Cause or selection? A nationwide register-based study of 703,960 individuals
Bjorkenstam E; Hallqvist J; Dalman C; Ljung R
Article: SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH. 2013;150(1):205-210
A five year diagnostic follow-up of 1840 patients after a first episode non-schizophrenia and non-affective psychosis
Bjorkenstam E; Bjorkenstam C; Hjern A; Reutfors J; Boden R
Article: EUROPEAN CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY. 2013;22(6):349-355
Suicidal behavior among delinquent former child welfare clients
Bjorkenstam C; Bjorkenstam E; Ljung R; Vinnerljung B; Tuvblad C
Article: PLOS ONE. 2013;8(1):e53551
Multi-Exposure and Clustering of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Socioeconomic Differences and Psychotropic Medication in Young Adults
Bjorkenstam E; Hjern A; Mittendorfer-Rutz E; Vinnerljung B; Hallqvist J; Ljung R
Article: BMJ OPEN. 2012;2(1):e000778
Quality of medical care and excess mortality in psychiatric patients-a nationwide register-based study in Sweden
Bjorkenstam E; Ljung R; Burstrom B; Mittendorfer-Rutz E; Hallqvist J; Weitoft GR
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY. 2011;40(6):1585-1592
Juvenile delinquency, social background and suicide-a Swedish national cohort study of 992 881 young adults
Bjorkenstam E; Bjorkenstam C; Vinnerljung B; Hallqvist J; Ljung R
Article: AGING & MENTAL HEALTH. 2011;15(2):259-266
Widowhood and the risk of psychiatric care, psychotropic medication and all-cause mortality: A cohort study of 658,022 elderly people in Sweden
Moller J; Bjorkenstam E; Ljung R; Yngwe MA
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All other publications

Letter: LANCET PSYCHIATRY. 2021;8(2):e2
Associations between statin use and suicidality, depression, anxiety, and seizures
Ljung R; Koster M; Bjorkenstam E; Salmi P
Corrigendum: JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS. 2020;270:188
Common mental disorders among young refugees in Sweden: the role of education and duration of residency (vol 266C pg 563, 2020)
Bjorkenstam E; Helgesson M; Norredam M; Sijbrandij M; de Montgomery CJ; Mittendorfer-Rutz E
Corrigendum: JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS. 2018;236:316
Impact of childhood adversities on depression in early adulthood: A longitudinal cohort study of 478,141 individuals in Sweden (vol 223, pg 95, 2017)
Bjorkenstam E; Vinnerljung B; Hjern A
Doctoral thesis: 2013
Adverse life events, psychiatric morbidity, and mortality : epidemiological studies of socioeconomic inequalities from a life course perspective
Björkenstam E
Meeting abstract: SUCHTTHERAPIE. 2011;38
Applying the Swedish Performance Assessment Framework in practise: assessment of efficiency and quality of psychiatric care
Lindelius B; Bjorkenstam E; Dahlgren C; Ljung R; Stefansson C
Letter: PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES. 2008;59(1):116-117
Ethnic differences in antidepressant treatment preceding suicide in Sweden
Ljung R; Bjorkenstam C; Bjorkenstam E

Employments

Affiliated to Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-2025

Degrees and Education

Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 2013

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