Metin Basoglu, MD, PhD is Professor of Psychiatry / Head of Trauma Studies at the Institute of Psychiatry of King’s College London and Director of the Istanbul Center for Behavior Research and Therapy (ICBRT / DABATEM) in Turkey. He is internationally known for his work on psychological trauma and its treatment. He has published extensively on torture, war, and natural disaster trauma and treatment of survivors. In a 1992 book on Torture and Its Consequences: Current Treatment Approaches (Cambridge University Press) he brought together the then available knowledge on the mental health effects of torture and their treatment, defined a new scientific discipline at the crossroads of mental health and human rights, and pointed the way forward for future research in the field. Since then this book established itself as a major reference source on torture.
Research conducted in Turkey and former Yugoslavia countries since the early 1990s included about 15,000 survivors of mass trauma, including torture, war, and earthquakes. Pioneering studies with torture survivors were the first to demonstrate the long-term mental health effects of torture using a controlled design. These studies explored the parallels between animal models of learned helplessness and human experience under torture and shed light on effective treatments for trauma survivors – ultimately leading to the development of a brief and highly effective intervention (Control-Focused Behavioral Treatment – CFBT). They also demonstrated that there is no distinction between ‘Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Treatment’ and physical torture in terms of their immediate and long-term psychological effects. The knowledge gained through this work still informs social and political sciences and international law in matters relating to human rights, definition of torture, rehabilitation of mass trauma survivors, and legal procedures concerning tortured asylum seekers and refugees.
Following the 1999 earthquakes in Turkey, Basoglu developed a cost-effective mental healthcare model for earthquake survivors, which involves brief behavioral interventions that can be disseminated on a self-help basis. He brought together 20 years of accumulated experience in a book (co-authored by Ebru Salcioglu) on A Mental Healthcare Model for Mass Trauma Survivors: Control-Focused Behavioral Treatment of Earthquake, War, and Torture Trauma published in March 2011 by Cambridge University Press. In 2010 he launched a new research program in Turkey aimed at developing a similar mental healthcare model for war and torture survivors, including asylum-seekers and refugees.
Both Trauma Studies at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London and ICBRT / DABATEM were founded by Basoglu with a view to promoting international research and knowledge on psychological trauma. Currently, he is conducting his work from ICBRT / DABATEM in Istanbul.
PUBLICATIONS
WAR / TORTURE TRAUMA
Letica-Crepulja M, Salcioglu E, Frančišković T, Basoglu M (2011) Factors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in war-survivors displaced in Croatia. Croatian Medical Journal, 52: 709-17.
Basoglu M (2010) You can’t fight violence with violence. New Scientist, 10 July 2010, 2768, 22-23.
Basoglu M (2009) A multivariate contextual analysis of torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatments: Implications for an evidence-based definition of torture. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 79,2, 135–145.
Basoglu M, Livanou M, Crnobaric C (2007) Torture versus other cruel inhuman and degrading treatment: Is the distinction real or apparent? Archives of General Psychiatry,64: 1-9.
Basoglu M (2006) Rehabilitation of traumatised refugees and survivors of torture – After almost two decades we still do not use evidence based treatments. British Medical Journal, 333:1230-1231.
Basoglu M, Livanou M, Crnobaric C, Franciskovic T, Suljic E, Duric D, Vranesic M (2005) Psychiatric and cognitive effects of war in former Yugoslavia – Association of lack of redress for trauma and posttraumatic stress reactions. Journal of American Medical Association, 294:580-590.
Basoglu M, Ekblad S, Bäärnhielm S, Livanou M (2004) Cognitive-behavioral treatment of tortured asylum seekers: A case study. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 18(3): 357-369.
Fairbank JA, Friedman MJ, & Basoglu M (2001) Psychosocial models. In E Gerrity TM, Keane, & F Tuma (Eds.) The Mental Health Consequences of Torture. NY: Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers, Inc.
Basoglu M, Jaranson JM, Mollica R, & Kastrup M (2001) Torture and mental health: A research overview. In E Gerrity TM, Keane, & F Tuma (Eds.) The mental health consequences of torture. NY: Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers, Inc.
Basoglu M (2001) Psychology of torture and its consequences. In NJ Smelser & PB Baltes (Eds). International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15779-15783, Pergamon, Oxford.
Basoglu M (1998) Behavioral and cognitive treatment of survivors of torture. In JM Jaranson and MK Popkin (Eds.) Caring for Victims of Torture. American Psychiatric Press: Washington, DC.
Basoglu M (1997) Torture as a stressful life event: A review of the current status of knowledge. In TW Miller (Ed.) Stressful Life Events. International Universities Press: New York.
Basoglu M Mineka S et al (1997) Psychological preparedness for trauma as a protective factor in survivors of torture. Psychological Medicine, 27:1421-1433.
Basoglu et al (1996) Appraisal of self, social environment, and State authority as a possible mediator of post-traumatic stress disorder in tortured political activists. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 105(2):232-236.
Basoglu M and Aker T (1996) Cognitive-behavioural treatment of torture survivors: A case study. Torture, 6:61-65.
Sarantidis D, Piniou-Kalli M, Pantazis D, Sotiropoulou G, Haritakis G, Tsaklakidou D, Douroukou T, & Basoglu M (1996) Long-term effects of torture of victims during the period of dictatorship in Greece: study design and preliminary data. Torture, 6(1):16-18.
Basoglu M (1995) The impact of torture experience on psychological adjustment: Approaches to research. In Y Kasvikis (Ed.) 25 years of Scientific Progress in Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies. Ellinika Grammata: Athens.
Basoglu M and Paker M (1995) Severity of trauma as predictor of long-term psychological status in survivors of torture. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 9(4):339-350.
Basoglu M et al (1994) Factors related to long-term traumatic stress responses in survivors of torture in Turkey. Journal of American Medical Association, 272(5):357-363.
Basoglu M (1994) Torture and psychiatry: The psychological effects of torture and their treatment. Turkish Journal of Psychiatry, 5(4):243-250.
Basoglu M et al (1994) A comparison of tortured with matched non-tortured political activists in Turkey. American Journal of Psychiatry, 151:76-81.
Basoglu M (1993) Prevention of torture and care of survivors: an integrated approach. Journal of American Medical Association, 270(5):606-611.
Basoglu M, Marks IM et al (1992) Amitriptyline for PTSD in a torture survivor: a case study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 5(1):77-83.
Basoglu M (1992) Introduction. In M Basoglu (Ed.) Torture and Its Consequences: Current Treatment Approaches. Cambridge University Press.
Basoglu M and Mineka S (1992) The role of uncontrollability and unpredictability of stress in the development of post-torture stress symptoms. In M Basoglu (Ed.) Torture and Its Consequences: Current Treatment Approaches. Cambridge University Press.
Basoglu M (1992) Behavioural and cognitive treatment of PTSD in torture survivors. In M Basoglu (Ed.) Torture and Its Consequences: Current Treatment Approaches. Cambridge University Press.
Basoglu M and Marks IM (1988) Torture. Research needed into how to help those who have been tortured. British Medical Journal, 297:1423-4.
LETTERS
Basoglu M (2010) Torture and terror. New Scientist, Vol. 205, No 2753, p. 26.
Basoglu M, Livanou M. (2008) Torture, culture, war zone exposure, and posttraumatic stress disorder Criterion A’s bracket creep. Reply. Archives of General Psychiatry, 65 (1), 116-117.
Basoglu M (2007) Treatment for depression symptoms in Ugandan adolescent survivors of war and displacement. Journal of American Medical Association, 298 (18), 2138.
Basoglu M (26 February 2007) Conclusion – Need for concerted action. British Medical Journal. Published online.
Basoglu M (31 January 2007) More of the same – Reply to Jaranson et al. British Medical Journal (Reply to Jaranson et al, 30 January 2007). Published online.
Basoglu M (23 January 2007) Final response to the argument about torture trauma being different. British Medical Journal (Reply to Wenzel, 21 January 2007). Published online.
Basoglu M (20 January 2007) Encouraging changes in thinking – Have we learned from past mistakes? British Medical Journal (Reply to Sjölund, 19 January 2007. Published online.
Basoglu M (16 January 2007) Hiding the truth and ethics – Are they compatible? British Medical Journal (Reply to Eytan and Carlsson, 15 January 2007). Published online.
Basoglu M (14 January 2007) Clarifying misconceptions about brief behavioural treatment – It is no magic! British Medical Journal. Published online.
Basoglu M (12 January 2007) Evidence regarding usefulness of torture rehabilitation programmes – What do we mean by evidence? British Medical Journal (Reply to Seltzer et al, 9 January, 2007). Published online.
Basoglu M (10 January 2007) Facts and myths about torture trauma – II. British Medical Journal (Reply to Seltzer et al, 9 January, 2007). Published online.
Basoglu M (9 January 2007) Evidence base of exposure-based treatments in PTSD – Do we need more evidence? British Medical Journal (Reply to Cohen, 8 January, 2007). Published online.
Basoglu M (6 January 2007) Putting things in perspective – Facts and myths about torture trauma. British Medical Journal (Reply to Vernon, 2 January 2007; Frank, 3 January 2007; Newell, 4 January 2007). Published online.
Basoglu M (29 December 2006) Defining priorities: Treat PTSD or related disability first? British Medical Journal (Reply to Rudnick, 28 December, 2006). Published online.
Basoglu M (26 December 2006) Rehabilitating torture survivor – Social support is not enough. British Medical Journal (Reply to Rudnick, 23 December, 2006). Published online.
Basoglu M (21 December 2006) Brief treatment of torture trauma is possible – Dismissing evidence as ‘quick fix’ will not help torture survivors. British Medical Journal (Reply to Seltzer et al, 19 December, 2006). Published online.
EARTHQUAKE TRAUMA
Salcioglu E, Basoglu M. (2010) Control focused behavioral treatment of earthquake survivors using live exposure to conditioned and simulated unconditioned stimuli. CyberPsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 13, 13-19.
Basoglu M, Salcioglu E. (2009) Advances in our understanding of earthquake trauma and its treatment – A self-help model of mental health care for survivors. In Y. Neria, S. Galea, F. Norris (Eds) Mental Health and Disasters. Cambridge University Press, pp.396-418
Salcioglu E, Basoglu M. (2009) Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. In JH Stone, M Blouin (Eds.). International Encyclopedia of Rehabilitation. Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange (CIRRIE) & L’Institut de Readaptation en Deficience Physique de Quebec. Available online at http://cirrie.buffalo.edu/encyclopedia/article.php?id=106&language=en
Basoglu M, Salcioglu E, Livanou M. (2009) Single-case experimental studies of a self-help manual for traumatic stress in earthquake survivors. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry,40,50-58.
Salcioglu E, Basoglu M (2008) Psychological effects of earthquakes in children: Prospects for brief behavioural treatment. World Journal of Pediatrics, 4(3),165-172.
Salcioglu E, Basoglu M, Livanou M (2008) Psychosocial determinants of relocation in survivors of the 1999 earthquake in Turkey. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 196,55-61.
Salcioglu E, Basoglu M, Livanou M (2007) Effects of live exposure on symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder: The role of reduced behavioral avoidance in improvement. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45, 2268-2279.
Salcioglu E, Basoglu M (2007) Brief behavioural treatments for earthquake survivors. In U. Niaz, ed. Pakistan earthquake 2005 -The day the mountains moved: International perspective of handling psychotrauma. SAMA Editorial and Publishing Services, pp. 200-220.
Basoglu M (2007) A mental health care model for earthquake survivors. In U. Niaz, ed. Pakistan earthquake 2005 -The day the mountains moved: International perspective of handling psychotrauma. SAMA Editorial and Publishing Services, pp. 194-199.
Salcioglu E, Basoglu M, Livanou M (2007) Posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid depression among survivors of the 1999 earthquake in Turkey. Disasters, 31: 115-129.
Basoglu M, Salcioglu E, & Livanou M (2007) A randomized controlled study of single-session behavioral treatment of earthquake-related posttraumatic stress disorder using an earthquake simulator. Psychological Medicine, 37(2): 203-214.
Basoglu M, Salcioglu E, Livanou M et al (2005) Single-session behavioral treatment of earthquake-related posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized waiting list controlled trial. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 18: 1-11.
Livanou M, Kasvikis Y, Basoglu M et al (2005) Earthquake-related psychological distress and associated factors 4 years after the Parnitha earthquake in Greece. European Psychiatry, 20:137-144.
Basoglu M, Kilic C, Salcioglu E, Livanou M (2004) Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid depression in earthquake survivors in Turkey: An epidemiological study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 17(2):133-141.
Basoglu M (2004) Post-traumatic stress disorder after earthquakes. In M Lader (Ed.) First Facts Psychiatry Highlights 2003-04. Health Press Ltd, Oxford.
Basoglu M, Livanou M, Salcioglu E (2003) A single session with an earthquake simulator for traumatic stress in earthquake survivors. American Journal of Psychiatry, 160: 788-790.
Basoglu M, Livanou M, Salcioglu E et al (2003) A brief behavioural treatment of chronic post-traumatic stress disorder in earthquake survivors: Results from an open clinical trial. Psychological Medicine, 33(4): 647-654.
Basoglu M, Salcioglu E, Livanou M (2002) Traumatic stress responses in survivors of earthquake in Turkey. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 15:269-276.
Salcioglu E, Basoglu M, Livanou M (2003) Long-term psychological outcome in non-treatment-seeking Earthquake survivors in Turkey. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 191(3):154-160.
Livanou M, Basoglu M, Salcioglu E et al (2003) Traumatic stress responses in treatment-seeking earthquake survivors in Turkey. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 190(12):816-823.
Basoglu M, Salcioglu E, Livanou M et al (2001) A Study of the Validity of a Screening Instrument for Traumatic Stress in Earthquake Survivors in Turkey. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 14: 491-509.
TRAUMA – GENERAL
Livanou M, Basoglu M, Marks et al (2002) Beliefs, sense of control, and treatment outcome in post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychological Medicine, 32:157-165.
Aker AT, Ozeren M, Basoglu M et al (1999) The Turkish version of Clinician-administered PTSD Scale for DSM-IV: A study of its reliability and validity. Turkish Journal of Psychiatry, 10: 286-293.
Miller T and Basoglu M (1992) Posttraumatic stress disorder: The impact of life stress events on adjustment. Integrative Psychiatry, 7:207-215.
Basoglu M (1992) Post-traumatic stress disorder: Psychobiological theories, recent advances in treatment and current issues. Turkish Journal of Psychiatry, 3(1):9-21.
