Malin Karlén

Dr. Malin Karlén is Assistant Director at the Centre for Ethics, Law, and Mental Health (CELAM) at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, where she also serves as Director of the cross-disciplinary forensic research center. Her research focuses on improving care for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and co-occurring mental health disorders (COD) within forensic psychiatric settings.

Dr. Karlén was awarded a Swedish government grant to support an international, year-long collaboration with Dr. Christina Lee, Associate Professor at the Boston University School of Social Work and Faculty Director of the CISWH Health Equity Lab. Together, they are leading a newly funded research initiative examining the social conditions in which crimes occur, the role of substance use in violent crime recidivism after release, and the impact of mental health and substance use treatment during institutionalization. Given Sweden’s recent increase in immigration, the project also explores the diverse experiences of immigrant groups, including trauma experienced before, during, and after migration.

In addition to her work in Sweden, Dr. Karlén collaborates internationally, including in New Zealand, where she is studying the experiences of Māori individuals in forensic settings. She has also worked extensively with Swedish social workers—who make up the majority of the forensic psychiatric workforce—to strengthen training in cultural humility and treatment approaches.