Rehabilitating Torture Survivors - Dignity - Danish Institute Against ...

PLENARY LECTURES: Assessment of Torture Survivors(Wednesday Dec 3 Morning)Presentation and Mental SymptomsInterrelated Symptoms and Integrated Care: Addressing the Physical,Mental and Social Dimensions of Health in Torture SurvivorsInvited lecturerAllen S. Keller, M.D.Associate Professor of Medicine, New York University School of MedicineDirector, Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of TortureNew York, New York, USAThe physical, mental and social dimensions of health are interrelated. In caringfor torture survivors, it is crucial that these 3 health arenas be evaluated andaddressed in a comprehensive, integrated fashion. When any one of these dimensionsof health is not evaluated and addressed, there is the potential for aprofoundly negative impact on the other two.In this presentation, I will discuss this interrelationship and present a multidisciplinarymodel for providing rehabilitative care for torture survivors. I will alsospeak to the crucial role of health professionals in promoting the health andwell-being of torture survivors through identification, treatment, documentationand advocacy.ReferencesKeller A, Lhewa, D, Rosenfeld B, Sachs E, Aladjem A, Cohen I, Smith H, PorterfieldK. Traumatic Experiences and Psychological Distress Among an UrbanRefugee Population. J Nervous and Mental Disease. 2006; 194 (3): 188-194.Keller A, Gold J. “Survivors of Torture.” In Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry.B Sadock, V Sadock, eds. New York: Lippincot Williams and Wilkins. 2005.Keller A. Caring and Advocating for Torture Victims. Lancet. 2002; 360, Supp1. pp. 55-56.7