Description:
Traumatic Head/Brain injury is a common impact of torture. THI/TBI can be a very debilitating illness not only associated with high rates of PTSD and depression but also major functional and cognitive deficits and physical disabilities. Every torture survivor needs a THI/TBI check in.
This webinar presents the important history of the diagnosis of THI/TBI in the torture field beginning with Dr. Leo Ettinger’s pioneering work with holocaust survivors in Norway in the 1950s and Dr. Richard Mollica’s team’s recent neuroimaging studies at Harvard. Recognition of the heterogeneous symptoms of THI/TBI will be taught, including variations based on the nature of injury, mechanism of injury, and severity of injury. Common tools for screening THI/TBI will be presented, alongside potential interventions used to treat symptoms and recognize when and where to refer people with THI/TBI for evaluation and treatment.
This webinar will benefit the caretakers of survivors of torture with a scientific approach to identification and treatment of THI/TBI.
Objectives:
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Recall the historical significance of identifying THI/TBI in survivors of extreme violence
- Understand the neuroscience of THI/TBI in survivors of torture
- Recognize the high prevalence of THI/TBI in survivors of torture
- Recognize how traumatic brain injury results in heterogeneous symptoms, which vary depending on the nature, mechanisms, and severity of injury
- Learn common tools for screening for TBI and post-concussive symptoms
- List the interventions used to treat TBI symptoms and recognize when and where to refer people with TBI for evaluation and treatment