ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´

Main areas of research interest:

• Sleep and sleep disorders
• Insomnia
• Circadian rhythms, shift work, bright light treatment, melatonin
• Sleep apnea
• Treatment of sleep disorders, incl chronic insomnia with stimulus control, sleep restriction

Short biography:

• 1983-4: Rotary scholarship at Middle Georgia College, Cochran, Georgia, USA.
• 1984-90: University of Bergen, Medical School. Highest GPA (10.74) in my class
• 1991: Internship, Vest-Agder Sentralsykehus, Kristiansand.
• 1992: Internship, General Practice, Namsos.
• 1992-5: Research fellow, Dept of Physiology, University of Bergen.
• 1994: Part-time occupational physician, Statens Vegvesen, Hordaland.
• 1995: PhD. Serotonin and the sleep/wake cycle, Dept. of Physiology, University of Bergen.
• 1995-8: Post-doctoral fellow, Dept. of Physiology, University of Bergen.
• 1997: Visiting Scientist, Dept. of Psychology, , New Jersey, USA.
• 1998-2002: Associate Professor, Section for General Practice, University of Bergen (50%).
• 1998-2015: General Practitioner (fastlege), Ulriksdal Legesenter/Fjellsiden Legesenter (50%).
• 2003-2018: Specialist in General Practice.
• 2002-present: Professor, Department of global public health and primary care, University of Bergen (50%).
• 1996-present: Co-founder and Sleep specialist, , a private Sleep Disorders Center.
• 2004-present: Director, Norwegian Competence Center for Sleep Disorders (SOVno) .
• 2010-present: Director, Centre of Sleep Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital.
• 2018-March2024: Leader, coordinator-team, Norwegian Primary Care Research Network (www.praksisnett.no)
• March2024-present: Project leader, Norwegian Primary Care Research Network (www.praksisnett.no)

Bjorvatn has more than 700 publications, and many of those are registered in PubMed. He has written four books about sleep and sleep disorders, and written multiple chapters in Norwegian and English textbooks. His H-index (May 2024) is 72. 

He has supervised 22 phd-candidates (8 as main supervisor), and is currently supervising 9 candidates (3 as main supervisor).

During last years given more than 50 interviews yearly about sleep, circadian rhythm, sleep disorders, and treatment options to Norwegian newspapers/magazines/radio stations. I consider it of great importance to increase public awareness about sleep and the consequences of sleep problems. The self-help book "Bedre søvn. En håndbok til deg som sover dårlig", published by Fagbokforlaget, has been shown to be effective in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) among patients with insomnia disorder. I have also published text books on "Sleep disorders", "Sleep in adolescence", and "Shiftwork and sleep".

During last three years presented more than 150 lectures about sleep, circadian rhythm, shift work and treatment of sleep disorders to medical doctors and other health personnel.

See publications listed in CRIStin

Shift work, sleep and health

Chronic insomnia

Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders

Obstructive sleep apnea

Parasomnias

Sleep health