Torture and its Consequences
Current Treatment Approaches

A classic publication in this field which serves as a scholarly yet very practical resource.

Metin Basoglu (Edited by)

9780521659543, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 4 February 1999

552 pages, 2 b/w illus. 9 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 3.2 cm, 0.86 kg

'The strengths of this book lie in the scholarly approach to a sociopolitical phenomenon, clearly and in an accessible way. The book is a landmark in that it has brought together international research and practice of relevance to those working with survivors of torture and organized violence. There are some excellent chapters, for example, on uncontrollable and unpredictable stress, and on sexual torture. All in all … this book is an important contribution to the field and of potential interest to all those interested in upholding human rights and in working with those who have suffered the gravest human rights abuses.' Nimisha Patel

Despite numerous international declarations and conventions prohibiting human rights violations, torture remains a major problem in many countries of the world. This book reveals in some detail the medical, psychiatric and psychological problems confronting the survivors of torture, and reviews the various and sometimes conflicting treatment approaches available to those involved in their care. Contributions are drawn both from host countries treating refugees who have experienced torture and from countries where treatment and rehabilitation of torture survivors has taken place in a setting of continuing repression and victimization. This handbook has become a classic resource, providing theoretical and practical information which addresses the needs of all health workers helping survivors of torture. Its reviews of issues in the sociology and psychobiology of organized violence also serve to command the interest of a much wider readership.

Introduction M. Basoglu
Part I. Torture and its Consequences: 1. The prevention of torture and the clinical care of survivors: a field in need of a new science R. Mollica
2. The physical sequelae of torture G. Skylv
3. Psychosocial consequences of torture: current knowledge and evidence F. Somnier, P. Vesti, M. Kastrup and I. K. Genefke
4. Psychological effects of torture: an empirical study of tortured and non-tortured non-political prisoners M. Paker, Ö. Paker and S. Yüksel
5. Psychosocial consequences for tortured refugees seeking asylum and refugee status in Europe R. Baker
6. Long-term effects of torture in former prisoners of war T. W. Miller
7. The Holocaust: survivors and their children N. Solkoff
Part II. Theory: 8. Psychobiological consequences of severe trauma J. A. Saporta and B. A. Van der Kolk
9. The role of uncontrollable and unpredictable stress in post-traumatic stress responses in torture survivors M. Basoglu and S. Mineka
Part III. Assessment, Diagnosis, and Classification: 10. Psychopathology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): boundaries of the syndrome R. McNally
11. Overview: the assessment and diagnosis of torture events and symptoms R. Mollica and Y. Caspi-Yavin
Part IV. Rehabilitation Programmes for Torture Survivors: 12. Organization of care and rehabilitation services for victims of torture and other forms of organized violence: a review of current issues L. H. M. van Willigen
13. Multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of torture survivors S. Bøjholm and P. Vesti
14. Sexual torture and the treatment of its consequences I. Lunde and J. Ortmann
Part V. Psychotherapy: 15. Psychodynamic approaches in the treatment of torture survivors E. Bustos
16. Psychotherapy for torture survivors P. Vesti and M. Kastrup
17. Current trends in the treatment of post-traumatic stress symptoms T. M. Keane, A. M. Albano and D. D. Blake
18. Behavioural and cognitive approach in the treatment of torture-related psychological problems M. Basoglu
Part VI. Torture in Particular Countries: Experience with Survivors of Torture in their Home country: 19. Torture in Argentina D. Kordon, L. Edelman, D. Lagos, E. Nicoletti, D. Kersner and M. Groshaus
20. Torture and the helping professions in South Africa T. Dowdall
21. Torture in Pakistan M. Mehdi
22. Rehabilitation of survivors of torture and political violence under a continuing stress situation: the Philippine experience A. A. Parong, E. Protacio-Marcelino, S. Estrado-Claudio, J. Pagaduan-Lopez and M. V. Cabildo
Part VII. Modern Ethics and International Law: 23. Modern ethics and international law B. Sørensen.

Subject Areas: Psychiatry [MMH]