Psychological impact of torture: a 3-month follow-up of mass-evacuated Kosovan adults in Sweden. Lessons learnt for prevention

Objective: To study the impact of torture on symptomatology among mass displaced adults. Method: A sample (total 131; 70 females, 61 males) of mass displaced adults from Kosovo, in Sweden, completed 3 months after a baseline study on trauma experiences and perceived symptoms, self‐rated instruments measuring psychiatric symptoms, aggression and coping. Results: Torture is associated with poor coping (manageability); depression, anxiety and aggression are associated with post‐traumatic stress disorder. All psychiatric symptoms and poor coping (but not aggression) are associated with being female. Limitations of the study include a relatively small sample. Ongoing trauma and stress before repatriation may also influence the responses. Several lessons learnt for prevention are discussed. Conclusion: Anger and hostility are important consequences of torture. Further research is necessary to understand the associations among coping strategies, psychiatric symptoms, aggression, torture experience and gender over time after repatriation or applying for asylum.