Thompson M, McGorry P
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Royal Park Hospital, Parkville, Victoria.
Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 1995 Mar;29(1):84-95. doi: 10.3109/00048679509075896.
Torture has existed since the earliest times, usually as public punishment prior to death. Today it is predominantly used in secret with the aim of destroying the individual's personality. The effects of torture include severe physical and psychological sequelae which have only recently come under scrutiny. In recent years many Chilean and El Salvadorean migrants have left their countries after being tortured and severely traumatised as a result of organised violence. The aim of this study was to pilot an investigation into the psychological sequelae of torture. Subjects were 30 Chileans and El Salvadoreans classified into three groups: torture, trauma and non-torture/trauma migrants. It was found to be feasible to access and interview survivors from a clinical research perspective without causing additional psychological morbidity. The subjects were interviewed and administered three scales: the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale, SCL-90-R, and the Impact of Event Scale. The results from the scales and the descriptive data presented indicate some support for the hypothesis that torture survivors show higher levels of PTSD, psychosomatic impairment and stress response disturbance than the trauma and non-torture/trauma groups. Methodological issues are discussed. The strengths and limitations of this preliminary study are considered in relation to future research.
酷刑自远古时代就已存在，通常作为死刑前的公开惩罚手段。如今，它主要被秘密使用，目的是摧毁个人的人格。酷刑的影响包括严重的身心后遗症，直到最近这些后遗症才受到审视。近年来，许多智利和萨尔瓦多移民在遭受有组织暴力导致的酷刑和严重创伤后离开了他们的国家。本研究的目的是对酷刑的心理后遗症进行初步调查。研究对象为30名智利人和萨尔瓦多人，分为三组：遭受酷刑的移民、受过创伤的移民以及未遭受酷刑/创伤的移民。结果发现，从临床研究角度接触和访谈幸存者并使其不产生额外的心理疾病是可行的。对这些研究对象进行了访谈，并让他们接受了三个量表的测试：创伤后应激障碍量表、症状自评量表90修订版（SCL - 90 - R）以及事件影响量表。量表的测试结果和所呈现的描述性数据表明，有一定证据支持以下假设：与受过创伤的移民组和未遭受酷刑/创伤的移民组相比，遭受酷刑的幸存者表现出更高水平的创伤后应激障碍、心身障碍和应激反应紊乱。文中还讨论了方法学问题。结合未来的研究，对这项初步研究的优势和局限性进行了考量。
