Treatment of torture victims--a longitudinal clinical study.
OBJECTIVE
To look at the effect of physiotherapy as part of the multidisciplinary treatment of torture victims.


METHODS
Monitoring of an extended, personally designed, multidisciplinary treatment of 21 torture victims, earlier exposed to both physical and psychological torture, over nine months with assessment of outcome. The physiotherapy comprised elements such as massage, exercise on land, balance training and stimulation of proprioception, all aiming at regaining body awareness. Effect of treatment was measured using the fibrositis index. Non-parametric statistics using the Wilcoxon test was applied.


RESULTS
Prior to treatment the median score of the fibrositis index was 15 points (range 2-34). After nine months of multidisciplinary treatment the median score of the fibrositis index was 2 points (range 0-3415). This decrease in experienced muscle pain was statistically significant (p<0,0001).


CONCLUSIONS
A high percentage of the torture victims in our study suffered from fibromyalgia prior to treatment. A multidisciplinary treatment involving individualised physiotherapy and psychotherapy had a significant effect on musculoskeletal pain in torture victims. Following nine months of treatment, only one torture victim in our study could be classified as suffering from fibromyalgia when applying the fibrositis index.
Danneskiold-Samsøe
Bente
B
The Parker Institute, Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Frederiksberg, Denmark. bente.danneskiold@fh.hosp.dk
Bartels
Else Marie
EM
Genefke
Inge
I
D000328:Adult; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014104:Torture / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome