title: Torture and mental health.
abstract: Torture has reached an epidemic proportion throughout the globe. The most common psychological symptoms are insomnia and nightmare, memory losts and poor concentration. There are 20 million official refugees in the world today. Torture in different dimensions is always attached with the refugee experience. Torture by definition creates a severe form of psychosomatic distress because of the person's lack of control over the basic bodily functions. Torture in women (16% to 52%) is perpetrated by male counterparts. Increasing awareness of professional obligation for prevention of torture will play a definite role in promoting a peaceful world.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Calcutta.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010819:Physician's Role; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014104:Torture / Q000523:psychology*