title: Testimonial Therapy: Impact on social participation and emotional wellbeing among Indian survivors of torture and organized violence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traumatizing events, such as torture, cause considerable impairments in psycho-social functioning. In developing countries, where torture is often perpetrated, few resources exist for the provision of therapeutic or rehabilitating interventions. The current study investigated the effectiveness of Testimonial Therapy (TT) as a brief psycho-social intervention to ameliorate the distress of Indian survivors of torture and related violence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three outcome measures (the WHO-5 Well-Being Scale, Social Participation-Scale and Pain and Anger Analogue) were compared before and after receiving TT, and semi structured interviews were conducted with survivors who had previously received TT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants showed significant improvements in emotional well-being, social participation, and self-perceived pain and anger. Furthermore, three qualitative interviews with survivors indicated that TT had a positive impact at the community level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the study was conducted without a control group for comparison, TT appeared to be an effective method for improving well-being and ameliorating distress among survivors of torture. Furthermore, TT can potentially promote community empowerment. However, more research on this aspect is needed.
authors.affiliation: University of Copenhagen. Correspondence to: miamyjo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mia Myhre
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Modvig
authors.forename: Inger
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Agger
authors.forename: Lenin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raghuvansh
authors.forename: Shirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shabana Khan
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Polatin
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D058992:Social Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014104:Torture / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult