Correlates of Symptom Reduction in Treatment Seeking Survivors of Torture
Abstract
The torture treatment movement is into its second quarter century, and yet empirical examinations of clients’ improvement over time remain scarce. The present study examines correlates of symptom reduction in a multinational treatment seeking refugee sample (N=189) attending a torture treatment center in New York City. Clients were assessed for clinical symptoms using the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) during the intake process and six months following intake. Data revealed statistically significant decreases in clinical symptoms at follow-up. Although there were no demographic correlates of improvement, receiving asylum or otherwise securing immigration status was predictive of clinical improvement in the full sample. Regression models revealed that individual therapy, psychiatric appointments, and attendance at educational sessions were predictive of improvement beyond the effects of immigration status. A subsample of clients who endorsed elevated levels of clinical distress at intake also displayed statistically significant improvement at follow-up, which was moderated by immigration status. Interpretation of these findings and implications for torture treatment centers will be discussed.
Subject Area
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Raghavan, Sumithra, "Correlates of Symptom Reduction in Treatment Seeking Survivors of Torture" (2008). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI13851787.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI13851787
