The development and maintenance of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in civilian adult survivors of war trauma and torture: A review

Johnson, Howard M.; Thompson, Andrew R.

doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2007.01.017

Cited by 438 publications

(330 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…However, most studies of the effects of torture have not controlled for the potentially confounding effects of other life traumas that happened before and after the torture. There is good evidence supporting a dose-response relationship between cumulative trauma and development and maintenance of PTSD in torture survivors (e.g., Johnson & Thompson, 2008;Mollica, McInnes, Poole, & Tor, 1998). In two large community studies of Iraqi refugees, torture did not predict the elevation of symptoms of PTSD, after controlling for the effects of traumas occurring before and after torture, (Kira et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A meta-analysis of 181 surveys on tortured populations from 40 countries found that rates of PTSD and depression showed large variability (0% -99% for PTSD and 3% -85.5%, for depression) (Steel, Chey, et al, 2009). Another meta-analysis (Johnson & Thompson, 2008) concluded that most epidemiologically-sound studies found relatively low rates of PTSD following torture. However, Steel and colleagues' (2009) meta-analysis found that reported torture emerged as the strongest factor associated with PTSD, followed by cumulative exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTE).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Mental Health Effects of Torture Trauma and Its Severity: A Replication and Extension

Kira¹,

Ashby²,

Odenat³

et al. 2013

PSYCH

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To clarify the effects of torture trauma and its components on PTSD and other mental health conditions, we investigated the relationship between measures for PTSD, Cumulative trauma disorders CTD, cumulative life trauma, torture and torture severity in a sample of 326 torture survivors. Hierarchical multiple regressions found no significant association between torture and PTSD. However, when we examined the effects of different types of torture we found witnessing and sexual tortures were significant predictors of PTSD and CTD. Path analysis results found that torture trauma and its severity may not be predicative of PTSD; but it is highly predictive of the more complex syndromes of CTD. The implications of the results for treating torture survivors were discussed. One of the important findings is the potential effects of torture on decreased re-experiencing and emotional numbness. Torture trauma may be too emotionally and physically painful experience that tends to be suppressed decreasing re-experiencing and increasing dissociation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Mental Health Effects of Torture Trauma and Its Severity: A Replication and Extension

Kira¹,

Ashby²,

Odenat³

et al. 2013

PSYCH

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“…Gender differences in mental health responses have been found in populations exposed to multiple types of trauma, including those impacted by displacement and armed conflict. 61,[71][72][73][74][75] Different neural mechanisms in men and women have been proposed to explain these gender disparities. 76,77 In women, higher sensitivity to a corticotropin-releasing factor has been reported, 78 potentially producing higher rates of depression, peritraumatic fear, dissociation, and negative peritraumatic cognitions, in comparison to men's responses.…”

Section: Gendermentioning

confidence: 99%

Socio-demographic patterns of posttraumatic stress disorder in Medellin, Colombia and the context of lifetime trauma exposure

et al. 2016

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Colombia, South America is currently transitioning to post-conflict status following 6 decades of armed conflict. The population has experienced extensive exposures to potentially traumatic events throughout the lifespan. Sources of trauma exposure include the prolonged armed insurgency, narco-trafficking violence, urban gang violence, violent actions of criminal bands, intra-familial violence, gender-based violence, and sex trafficking. Exposure to potentially traumatic events is related to a variety of psychiatric outcomes, in particular, posttraumatic stress disorder. Given this context of lifetime trauma exposure, socio-demographic patterns of posttraumatic stress disorder were explored in a sample of residents of Medellin, Colombia, the nation's second largest city and a nexus for multiple types of trauma exposure.

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“…Social support and solidarity through interpersonal processes have a complex relationship to trauma response and recovery (Maerker & Horn, 2013). However, there is evidence that social support can mitigate risk for post-traumatic depression and other trauma-related symptoms (Brewin, Andrews & Valentine, 2000;Johansen et al, 2007;Johnson & Thompson, 2008;Ozer et al, 2003;Porter & Haslam, 2005;Shalev, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultural logics of emotion: Implications for understanding torture and its sequelae

Kirmayer

Ban²,

Jaranson³

2018

Torture

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This paper explores the significance of cultural variations in emotion for the meaning and impact of torture, focusing on the dynamics of shame, humiliation, and powerlessness. Forms of physical and psychological pain and suffering share some common neurobiological pathways and regulatory systems that are influenced by social and cultural factors. All forms of torture follow an affective logic rooted both in human biology and in local social and cultural meanings of experience. Understanding the impact of specific forms of torture on individuals requires knowledge of their learning histories, and of the personal and cultural meanings of specific kinds of violence. Exploring cultural meanings requires attention to over-arching discourse, embodied practices, and everyday engagements with an ecosocial environment. Restitution, treatment and recovery can then be guided by knowledge of cultural meanings, dynamics, and strategies for coping with catastrophic threats, injury, humiliation, helplessness and loss.

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The development and maintenance of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in civilian adult survivors of war trauma and torture: A review

Cited by 438 publications

References 58 publications

The Mental Health Effects of Torture Trauma and Its Severity: A Replication and Extension

The Mental Health Effects of Torture Trauma and Its Severity: A Replication and Extension

Socio-demographic patterns of posttraumatic stress disorder in Medellin, Colombia and the context of lifetime trauma exposure

Cultural logics of emotion: Implications for understanding torture and its sequelae

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