Sequelae to torture. A controlled study of torture victims living in exile
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Sequelae to torture. A controlled study of torture victims living in exile. / Hougen, H P; Kelstrup, Jesper Dahl; Petersen, H D; Rasmussen, O V.
In: Forensic Science International, Vol. 36, No. 1-2, 01.1988, p. 153-60.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Sequelae to torture. A controlled study of torture victims living in exile
AU - Hougen, H P
AU - Kelstrup, Jesper Dahl
AU - Petersen, H D
AU - Rasmussen, O V
PY - 1988/1
Y1 - 1988/1
N2 - Twenty-eight Turkish refugees living in Denmark were examined by the authors in the period 1984-85. Fourteen of the persons alleged having been tortured in Turkey during the period 1980-83. The remaining 14 persons reported that they had not been tortured and thus acted as controls. All the testimonies were found valid according to a method previously used by us. The most common forms of violence reported were blows and electrical torture. Blindfolding, solitary confinement and threats were also frequent. At the time of examination the main mental complaints were sleep disturbances with nightmares and impaired memory. Emotional lability and concentration disturbances were also frequent. Physically the torture victims suffered from headache, various cardio-pulmonary and muscular pains, dyspepsia and reading disturbances. All reported that they had been healthy before torture. The clinical examination revealed only a few signs related to torture, although examples of minimal scars, fractured or missing teeth, discrete neurological disorders and mental depression were found. The 14 controls had significantly fewer complaints, and almost no abnormalities were found during the clinical examination. The present study clearly demonstrates the traumatic effects of torture.
AB - Twenty-eight Turkish refugees living in Denmark were examined by the authors in the period 1984-85. Fourteen of the persons alleged having been tortured in Turkey during the period 1980-83. The remaining 14 persons reported that they had not been tortured and thus acted as controls. All the testimonies were found valid according to a method previously used by us. The most common forms of violence reported were blows and electrical torture. Blindfolding, solitary confinement and threats were also frequent. At the time of examination the main mental complaints were sleep disturbances with nightmares and impaired memory. Emotional lability and concentration disturbances were also frequent. Physically the torture victims suffered from headache, various cardio-pulmonary and muscular pains, dyspepsia and reading disturbances. All reported that they had been healthy before torture. The clinical examination revealed only a few signs related to torture, although examples of minimal scars, fractured or missing teeth, discrete neurological disorders and mental depression were found. The 14 controls had significantly fewer complaints, and almost no abnormalities were found during the clinical examination. The present study clearly demonstrates the traumatic effects of torture.
KW - Adult
KW - Denmark
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Refugees
KW - Torture
KW - Turkey
KW - Wounds and Injuries
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 3338688
VL - 36
SP - 153
EP - 160
JO - Forensic Science International
JF - Forensic Science International
SN - 0379-0738
IS - 1-2
ER -
ID: 44516110