PSYCHOLOGICAL PREPAREDNESS FOR TRAUMA AS A PROTECTIVE FACTOR IN SURVIVORS OF TORTURE

Background. Although much research has focused on mechanisms of trauma tization and factors related to post-trauma psychological functioning in survivors of trauma, there have been few studies of survivors of to rture despite the widespread practice of torture in the world. The aim of this study was to examine the role of 'psychological preparedness' for trauma in post-traumatic stress responses in survivors of torture . Method. Thirty-four torture survivors who had no history of politica l activity, commitment to a political cause or group, or expectations of arrest and torture were compared with 55 tortured political activis ts, using structured interviews and measures of anxiety, depression, a nd posttraumatic stress disorder. Results. Compared with tortured poli tical activists, tortured non-activists were subject to relatively les s severe torture but showed higher levels of psychopathology. Less psy chological preparedness related to greater perceived distress during t orture and more severe psychological problems, explaining 4% of the va riance in general psychopathology and 9% of the variance in posttrauma tic stress disorder symptoms. Conclusions. The study findings lend sup port to the role of prior immunization to traumatic stress and to unpr edictability and uncontrollability of stressors in the effects of trau matization. Further research aimed at identifying the behavioural and cognitive components of psychological preparedness that play a role in traumatization may provide useful insights into effective treatment s trategies for survivors of torture.