Psychiatry Research
Volume 264, 2018, Pages 143-150

The effects of perceived torture controllability on symptom severity of posttraumatic stress, depression and anger in refugees and asylum seekers: A path analysis (Article)

Le L. , Morina N. , Schnyder U. , Schick M. , Bryant R.A. , Nickerson A.*
  • a School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • b Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Zurich University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  • c Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Zurich University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  • d Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Zurich University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  • e School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • f School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Abstract

Torture is associated with greater psychopathology, however, the specific mechanisms underlying the effects of torture remain unclear. Research suggests that the perceived uncontrollable nature of, rather than the exposure to, torture, influences the development of psychological disorders. Perceived distress during torture has also been shown to influence psychological outcomes. This cross-sectional study explored the relationship between perceived torture controllability, emotions (i.e., anger and fear) during torture, and current posttraumatic stress (PTS), depression and anger symptoms, controlling for the effects of post-migration living difficulties. Data were collected from 108 refugees and asylum seekers in treatment at two psychiatric clinics in Zurich, Switzerland. Path analyses revealed negative correlations between PTS, depression and anger symptoms, and perceived torture controllability, and positive correlations with anger and fear during torture. Furthermore, the effects of perceived torture controllability on PTS and depression symptoms were mediated by fear during torture, and on anger symptoms via anger during torture. This was over and above the effects of post-migration living difficulties on psychological symptoms. The study provides preliminary evidence that perceived uncontrollability and distress during torture might be significant risk factors for current mental health of torture survivors. These findings may have implications for informing interventions for torture survivors. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.

Author Keywords

posttraumatic stress disorder Refugees Anger Controllability Torture trauma

Index Keywords

perception depression refugee Emotions human Refugees survivor middle aged Survivors priority journal Behavior Control anger Psychopathology Cross-Sectional Studies mental disease asylum seeker cross-sectional study Humans psychology male female risk factor Article emotion major clinical study adult migration posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic correlational study disease severity Fear evidence based medicine Switzerland Torture
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85055623998&doi=10.1016%2fj.psychres.2018.03.055&partnerID=40&md5=da21c1c948e42a8040b2f3b76ed74673
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.03.055
ISSN: 01651781
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English