The journal was established five years before the Norwegian Medical Association (Norwegian: Den norske lægeforening, from 2008 Den norske legeforening).

The journal changed names in 1888 to Organ for Den norske lægeforening (Proceedings of the Norwegian Medical Association) before being renamed Tidsskrift for Den norske lægeforening (Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association) in 1890.

The spelling was changed to Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening to reflect modern Norwegian orthography in 2008.

It is nicknamed and to some extent branded simply as "Tidsskriftet" (The Journal) within the Norwegian medical profession.

It also includes advertisements for specialist practices and private hospitals.