[Health status and degree of traumatisation among newly arrived asylum seeker--secondary publication].
An unknown number of asylum seekers arriving in Denmark have been exposed to torture. Amnesty International's Danish Medical Group examined 142 asylum seekers, of whom 45% had been exposed to torture. Physical and psychological symptoms were 2-3 times as frequent among torture survivors as among non-tortured asylum seekers. Among the torture survivors, 63% fulfilled the criteria of post-traumatic stress disorder, 58% had objective psychological findings, and 42% had torture-related scars. Identification of torture survivors is important in order to initiate the necessary medical treatment.
Masmas
Tania Nicole
TN
Amnesty International, Danske Laegegruppe, København, Denmark. masmas@dadlnet.dk
Møller
Eva
E
Buhmann
Caecilie
C
Bunch
Vibeke
V
Jensen
Jean Hald
JH
Hansen
Trine Nørregård
TN
Jørgensen
Louise Møller
LM
Kjaer
Claes
C
Mannstaedt
Maiken
M
Oxholm
Annemette
A
Skau
Jutta
J
Theilade
Lotte Arlø
LA
Worm
Lise
L
Ekstrøm
Morten
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014104:Torture / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult