Psychiatric Morbidity in Survivors of Organised State Violence Including Torture

Ramsay, Rosalind; Gorst-Unsworth, Caroline; Turner, Stuart

doi:10.1192/bjp.162.1.55

Cited by 116 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Our data confirm the expectations of other authors [6,4,7,13] that torture survivors suffer from post-traumatic sequels that most frequently fulfil the diagnostical criteria for PTSD. In the majority of our patients (n = 35), DSM diagnoses were not restricted to PTSD, but patients suffered from depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and from functional psychosis.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…The belief that only those sick or weak before an extreme experience will develop disorders after a traumatic event, which was a serious handicap for those surviving concentration camps after the Second World War [3] in regard to treatment and compensation, has been replaced by critical studies demonstrating serious and long-lasting sequels of physical and psychological violence [4][5][6][7]. The earlier model of a specific 'torture syndrome' has been abandoned by most authors [5], but it is yet by no means clear what disorders have to be seen as characteristic for torture sequels [8,9], a fact that could have important implications for treatment and rehabilitation of sequels to torture.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Psychological Disorders in Survivors of Torture: Exhaustion, Impairment and Depression

Wenzel¹,

Griengl²,

Stompe³

et al. 2000

Psychopathology

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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been described as the characteristic sequel to extreme events in life such as war and especially torture. This limitation to a single approach in regard to diagnosis and treatment has been criticised as being a too narrow concept to describe the effects following extreme events in life, especially as most studies so far were limited to PTSD and a small range of symptoms or disorders. The study presents data on psychiatric disorders in a group of exiled survivors of torture presenting to an out-patient department for psychiatry. A DSM-III-R-based psychiatric interview, including the general assessment of functioning scale (GAF), an open list of symptoms and the Vienna diagnostic criteria in regard to depression were used to evaluate a broader range of possible sequels. The most frequent present diagnosis in 44 patients seen over a period of 3 years was PTSD (n = 40), but criteria for a present diagnosis of other disorders were fulfilled in 34 patients, even years after torture, mainly major depression or dysthymia (n = 26). Criteria for functional psychosis were fulfilled in 4 patients. Many patients reported symptoms not assessed by DSM-III-R criteria, including feelings of shame and guilt, and ruminations on existential fears. The impairment as indicated by the GAF (mean 59.1) correlated best with the presence of the endogenomorphic-depressive axial syndrome, but not with duration of imprisonment, age or other factors. Research on sequels to extreme trauma should not be restricted to a simple diagnosis of PTSD, but should continue to look for a broader conceptualisation, including neglected categories like the axial syndrome, as PTSD is common, but might not be the only factor of importance for research and treatment. ICD-10 might offer a more adequate interpretation of sequels.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological Disorders in Survivors of Torture: Exhaustion, Impairment and Depression

Wenzel¹,

Griengl²,

Stompe³

et al. 2000

Psychopathology

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show abstract

“…A case-note survey has broadly confirmed the presence of PTSD, major depression and somatoform symptoms (Ramsay, Gorst-Unsworth, & Turner, 1993). This study also indicated that different trauma types were associated with different PTSD patterns, although this had not been one of the prior predictions and little weight could therefore be attached to the finding.…”

mentioning

confidence: 50%

Survivors of torture and organized violence: Demography and diagnosis

Velsen

Gorst-Unsworth²,

Turner

1996

Journal of Traumatic Stress

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Sixty patients, with a history of torture or other repressive state violence, newly referred to two psychiatrists, were assessed using a standard instrument. Thirty one met the diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and 21 met the criteria for MDD. Relationships between these diagnoses and history of trauma, loss of health, and social losses were investigated. Sexual torture is associated with an avoidance reaction.

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“…PTSD is common among prostituted women. In nine countries, Farley, Alvarez, Sezgin, Baral, Kiremire, Lynne, DuPlessis, DuPlessis, Gonzales, Spiwak, Cotton, and Zumbeck (in press) found that 68% met criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, a prevalence comparable to battered women seeking shelter (Houskamp & Foy, 1991), rape survivors seeking treatment (Bownes, O'Gorman & Sayers, 1991), and survivors of state-sponsored torture (Ramsay,Gorst-Unsworth & Turner, 1993).…”

Section: The Invisibility Of Psychological Symptoms Among Women In Prmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prostitution and the Invisibility of Harm

Farley¹

2003

Women & Therapy

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The harm of prostitution is socially invisible, and it is also invisible in the law, in public health, and in psychology. This article addresses origins of this invisibility, how words in current usage promote the invisibility of prostitution's harm, and how public health perspectives and psychological theory tend to ignore the harm done by men to women in prostitution. Literature which documents the overwhelming physical and psychological harm to those in prostitution is summarized here. The interconnectedness of racism, colonialism, and child sexual assault with prostitution are discussed.

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Psychiatric Morbidity in Survivors of Organised State Violence Including Torture

Cited by 116 publications

References 5 publications

Psychological Disorders in Survivors of Torture: Exhaustion, Impairment and Depression

Psychological Disorders in Survivors of Torture: Exhaustion, Impairment and Depression

Survivors of torture and organized violence: Demography and diagnosis

Prostitution and the Invisibility of Harm

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