Finn Askevold 1917-2003

Professor emeritus and psychoanalyst Finn Askevold died 29 August 2003, 86 years old.

Finn Askevold finished his medical studies in 1946, specialised in psychiatry, and undertook training as psychoanalyst at the Norwegian Psychoanalytic Society

In 1959, he started his life-long commitment to psychosomatic medicine and psychoanalysis as a consultation-liaison psychiatrist at the National University Hospital in Oslo. In 1971, he established the Department of Psychosomatic medicine at the same hospital. He was the head doctor and Director of the Department until retirement in 1987.

He was appointed Professor in Psychiatry at the University Hospital. His thesis was on Anorexia nevrosa among younger women. He published over 100 articles mainly on anorexia nevrosa, traumatic war experiences and psychosomatic medicine. His work on war trauma among Norwegian sailors during The Second World War, was pathbreaking by showing that extreme psychological stress may cause brain damage.

He held several important positions within international psychosomatic medicine, where he represented a psychoanalytic point of view.

He served on The Editorial Board of the Scandinavian Psychoanalytic Review from 1989-1991. He was president of The Norwegian Psychoanalytic Society in 1968-1971 and 1978-1980.

Finn Askevold was in many ways formal, and would stress form and correctness. On the other hand, he was direct, his sense of humour could be rather rough and flirting, and he would dress in a casual way He took great pleasure in storytelling and anecdotes, often in an associative and spontaneous way. In the middle of this, he could be shy and modest. Through this wealth of colourfullness and vitality, it was easy to perceive sides which represented basic attitudes. He was a kind and wellintentioned man. It requires a reconciled inner space to apply unveiled directness about vulnerable issues. He had developed these traits in both personal and professionally firm attitudes.

It was easy to approach Finn