Forensic Science International
Volume 67, Issue 1, 1994, Pages 9-16

General health assessment in refugees claiming to have been tortured (Article)

Petersen H.D. , Christensen M.E. , Kastrup M. , Thomsen J.L. , Foldspang A.*
  • a The Amnesty International Medical Group, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • b The Amnesty International Medical Group, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • c The Amnesty International Medical Group, Copenhagen, Denmark, Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • d The Amnesty International Medical Group, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • e Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims, Copenhagen, Denmark, Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergsgade 8, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark

Abstract

General health assessment of refugees claiming to have been previously exposed to torture takes place in a psychological atmosphere affected by the difficult situation of the refugee. Thirty-one refugees, mainly from the Middle East and Africa, were assessed as regards their physical and mental health. Assessment took place with the help of professional interpreters and was, during each interview, performed by two medical doctors using double-blind techniques. Based on a number of highly significant (P < 0.001) correlation coefficients and Kappa values, observers agreed frequently on gradients of symptom intensity and less frequently on absolute symptom levels. However, agreement was almost complete when assessing the presence of intense symptoms and the absolute absence of a symptom. Symptom patterns were demonstrated to be consistent, clinically interpretable and, furthermore, closely associated (P < 0.0001) with self-reported global (general) health. Reliability was moderate with respect to clinical observation during interview. © 1994.

Author Keywords

Validity Reliability Torture

Index Keywords

symptomatology refugee mental health human Factor Analysis, Statistical Refugees Middle East Denmark Interview, Psychological pain health status priority journal Affective Symptoms interview male female reliability Double-Blind Method Africa Reproducibility of Results Article adult human experiment Mental Status Schedule Observer Variation normal human Medical History Taking Middle Age Torture
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0027998330&doi=10.1016%2f0379-0738%2894%2990406-5&partnerID=40&md5=95d6cdbc4f31ced936ca429aa933d87d
DOI: 10.1016/0379-0738(94)90406-5
ISSN: 03790738
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English