“I need to get back to a normal life”: using the core DSM-5 Cultural Formulation Interview to explore existential themes shared by adolescents in specialized mental healthcare in Norway

This study highlights the potential of the CFI as a narrative tool to enhance understanding of adolescents' existential concerns and needs in mental healthcare treatment. Their narratives concerned multi-dimensional and interacting aspects of illness and health (biological-physical, psychological, social, ecological, and existential aspects) of relevance to treatment planning and the treatment process. Notably, a functional understanding of the existential dimension, designed for clinical contexts, provided a deeper and more nuanced perspective on how existential issues influence decision-making and coping with everyday challenges. The findings indicate the importance of including existential themes in mental healthcare and treatment for adolescents. The qualitative data in this study were derived from a larger mixed-methods project designed to test the efficacy of the CFI in different clinical contexts.