Uncovering Re-traumatization Experiences of Torture Survivors in Somatic Health Care: A Qualitative Systematic Review

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2021 Feb 4

PMID 33539415

Citations 8

Authors

Ana Carla S P Schippert

Ellen Karine Grov

Ann Kristin Bjornnes

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Little research has focused on torture survivors' re-traumatization experiences in health and hospital units that treat somatic diseases, though any medical procedure can re-traumatize survivors. This study's purpose was to summarize qualitative research evidence on torture survivors' somatic healthcare experiences and to identify "triggers" or "reminders" that can lead to re-traumatization. The study's search strategies identified 6,326 citations and eight studies, comprising data from 290 participants, exploring encounters with healthcare providers from torture survivors' perspectives, which were included in the present research. Dallam's Healthcare Retraumatization Model was used as a framework for data extraction and analysis. Five main themes were elicited from the findings: (1) invisibility, silence, and mistrust; (2) healthcare providers' attitudes and a lack of perceived quality in healthcare; (3) disempowerment; (4) avoidance; and (5) satisfaction and gratitude. An analysis of the study's findings revealed that torture survivors do not receive adequate healthcare and may experience challenges during treatment that can result in re-traumatization. The findings of this literature review provide a basis for understanding the difficulties that survivors experience in receiving somatic healthcare, as well as an explanation of the re-traumatization process.

Citing Articles

"After torture, everything changed": the unpacking of trauma from torture with interpretative phenomenological analysis and Merleau-Ponty's theory of the lived body.

Schippert A, Grov E, Bjornnes A BMC Psychol. 2025; 13(1):219.

PMID: 40059220 PMC: 11890556. DOI: 10.1186/s40359-025-02507-4.

Preventing retraumatisation in torture survivors during surgical care: results of a guideline-development project and qualitative study exploring healthcare providers' experiences.

Schippert A, Grov E, Dahl-Michelsen T, Silvola J, Sparboe-Nilsen B, Danielsen S BMJ Open. 2024; 14(8):e083388.

PMID: 39179277 PMC: 11344513. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083388.

Torture survivors' experiences of receiving surgical treatment indicating re- traumatization.

Schippert A, Dahl-Michelsen T, Grov E, Sparboe-Nilsen B, Silvola J, Bjornnes A PLoS One. 2023; 18(10):e0287994.

PMID: 37847719 PMC: 10581467. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287994.

"The facilitator is not a bystander": exploring the perspectives of interdisciplinary experts on trauma research.

Hira S, Sheppard-Perkins M, Darroch F Front Psychol. 2023; 14:1225789.

PMID: 37680237 PMC: 10481530. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1225789.

Solidarity tourism: A pathway to revitalising the health of vulnerable war-affected populations?.

Wen J, Hu F, Zheng D, Phau I, Kozak M, Hou H J Glob Health. 2023; 13:03050.

PMID: 37651632 PMC: 10471150. DOI: 10.7189/jogh.13.03050.

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