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Psychotherapy for Victims of Torture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Finn E. Somnier  and
Inge Kemp Genefke
Finn E. Somnier*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, State University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Inge Kemp Genefke
Affiliation:
International Rehabilitation and Research Center for Torture Victims, Copenhagen, Denmark
*
Correspondence
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Abstract

Three groups of torture victims were studied with the aim of establishing a concept of psychotherapy for such victims. Analysis of the first group, consisting of 200 case-reports made by Amnesty International medical groups, resulted in a general outline of the psychological methods of torture and their main impact on the victims. A second group of 24 torture victims was examined by the authors, and a quantitative assessment of long-term neuropsychological complaints and a qualitative insight into these symptoms achieved. In-depth interviews with victims in the third group which, consisted of the victims from the second group and six others, together with the results from the other two groups, formed the basis of a concept of psychotherapy for torture victims.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 149 , Issue 3 , September 1986 , pp. 323 - 329
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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