‘This is not paranoia, this is real life’: psychosocial interventions for refugee victims of torture in Athens

The need for culturally relevant treatment interventions for
refugees focusing on post-migration factors is clearly of no small
concern. To (i) explore culturally informed perspectives on
trauma from an individual, qualitative perspective and (ii) track
the trajectory of post-traumatic responses in relation to
processes of social integration, we present the results of 12
months of research among asylum seekers and refugees in an
NGO-run centre for victims of torture in Athens, Greece. This
included an in-depth follow-up of 10 victims of torture, as well as
interviews with 36 health professionals, seven cultural mediators
and 21 refugee community leaders. A case study from the
research project is presented to illustrate the substantial
psychological impact of current material realities of refugee victims of torture as they adapt to their new environment. An
interpersonal-social model is presented which examines various post-migration ‘feedback loops’ influencing post-traumatic
symptomatology.