Detainment and health: The case of the Lebanese hostages of war

Abstract

The purpose of the current research was to compare former detainees of Khiam prison to a comparison group regarding depression, anxiety, presence of chronic diseases, smoking, and alcohol drinking. The sample consisted of 118 ex-detainees and 90 community controls. The Beck Depression Inventory, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, the Clinician-Administered Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale, and the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire were used. The ex-detainees suffered from an increased level of depression, high anxiety scores, increased chronic diseases, smoked more, and consumed more alcohol than their comparison group. Regression analyses showed that detainment independently predicted depression and anxiety.

Torture and Long-Term Health Effects Among Lebanese Female Political Prisoners

“…The prevalence of PTSD among the tortured former prisoners in the study sample was high (28.4%), but comparable with that among political tortured prisoners in Lebanon (30.6%; Farhood et al, 2010), among political tortured prisoners in Occupied Palestinian Territory (Punamaki et al, 2010), and among political prisoners in Germany (33%; Maercker et al, 2000). However, the prevalence of CVDs adjusted for age was relatively high in the study sample as compared with a normal population of women belonging to the same age group not previously exposed to torture (16.42% vs. 6%, respectively; CDC, 2011; Mittelmark et al, 1993).…”

Institutional betrayal.

“…However, new research has begun to focus on events that are clearly traumatic and yet historically have not fit neatly within the individually focused model that has dominated the field of traumatic stress. Researchers of experiences such as fleeing one's country as a refugee (George, 2010), being taken hostage (Farhood, Chaaya, & Saab, 2010), working in a dangerous workplace such as in the military or law enforcement (Violanti, 1997), or being subject to racism and discrimination (Bryant-Davis, 2007) have been asking the same questions that had been behind the evolving understanding of trauma: What effect does experiencing chronic fear, stress, or mistreatment have on psychological well-being? What does it mean to find danger in a place where one instead expected to find safety?…”

Human rights violations and smoking status among South African adults enrolled in the South Africa Stress and Health (SASH) study

“…Stressful experiences such as human rights violations are associated with higher odds of smoking (Ackerson et al, 2007; Cisler et al, 2011; Farhood et al, 2010; Fernander et al, 2010; Gass et al, 2010; Gidycz et al, 2008; Guthrie et al, 2002; Jun et al, 2008; Landrine & Klonoff, 2000; McKee et al, 2003; Slopen et al, 2012; Wheeler et al, 2010; Yoshihama et al, 2010). It is likely that persecution due to one’s political beliefs, and/or due to factors that one cannot control, such as race, created a great deal of stress among South Africans.…”

“…In Croatia, six years after the end of the Croatian civil war, residents who reported post-war stress (e.g., combat, being a refugee, being wounded or losing a close relative or friend due to the war) smoked more frequently than those who reported none (p<.0001) (Spalj et al, 2008). In addition, Lebanese hostages of war had a significantly higher prevalence of smoking (58.5%) than respondents who were not held hostage (33.3%; p<.0001) (Farhood et al, 2010). The mean length of time between hostage release and data collection was 5.7 years, suggesting that these types of experiences may continue to impact smoking behavior long after the original trauma has ended.…”