Trauma and Rehabilitation 2004 Report
The torture rehabilitation centre for post traumatic, physical and mental trauma, TOHAV, is a co-ordination and reference centre aiming at guaranteeing the availability of therapies to persons who have been exposed to state-induced violence. With each new admission, socio-demographic information is obtained on the applicant, the torture suffered, and experiences, if any, in prison. Our treatment programme is set up based on a pre-diagnosis derived from the results of a physical examination upon admission of the patient. Thereafter the diagnosis is completed using other necessary examination methods such as laboratory tests, radiological examinations and specialist examinations. Finally, under the co-ordination of the doctor in charge of the centre, an individual therapy programme is elaborated and applied for each patient. One of the centre's team of experts is a neurologist, who contributes to the examination and therapy programme. If initial examinations show symptoms of psychological trauma, the patient is also integrated in the psychiatric treatment programme. A conversation with the psychologist and the psychiatrist is held after the initial examination in order to evaluate the emotional state of the patient. Physical therapy is often combined with physiotherapy and medication. Since 2003, a substantial part of the physiotherapy treatment has been provided at the centre itself.
A group acting through interdisciplinary co-operation assists in the entire healing process of the patient: medical specialists, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, lawyers, persons of reference important to the victim and, if possible, including the victim's family members and relatives.
Furthermore, TOHAV works in accordance with the UN guidelines of the «Istanbul Protocol» (Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment).
