Lebanese prisoners during the
Israeli occupation of Lebanon (1981-1999) were subject to regular torture. We
examined the association between torture events and post-traumatic stress and
cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) among former women political prisoners.
We
conducted a retrospective survey and performed health check-ups among 108
former women prisoners. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was measured
through the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), and CVDs were assessed by
physicians' diagnoses. The study was conducted between September 2008 and March
2010. All 67 participants in the study reported having been subjected to a
variety of torture events.
The prevalence of PTSD was 28.4% and that of CVD was
16.42%, respectively. PTSD and CVD were more likely to occur among women who
had had longer imprisonment periods, and PTSD specifically was associated with
exposure to torture (beating and threatening by
rape). CVD was associated with asphyxia with
water. Devoutness decreased the risk of PTSD. Torture had adverse long-term effects on
prisoners' physiological and psychological health; devoutness played a
significant protective role.
This study highlights the importance of
documenting torture events and identifying the indicators of associated
morbidity among surviving political prisoners for the provision of additional
resources to care.
Purchase full article at:
- 1Observatory of Public Policies and Health, Bonmarche Center, Beirut, Lebanon Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon ali.ghaddar@liu.edu.lb.
- 2Observatory of Public Policies and Health, Bonmarche Center, Beirut, Lebanon Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
- 3Khiam Rehabilitation Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
- J Interpers Violence. 2016 Feb;31(3):500-14. doi: 10.1177/0886260514555865. Epub 2014 Nov 6.
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