Resumo

ALMANZA-AVENDANO, Ariagor Manuel; CACERES-BECERRA, Sergio  e  GOMEZ-SAN LUIS, Anel Hortensia. Process of treatment to victims of organized crime: A qualitative study focused on the experience of clinical psychologists. Interdisciplinaria [online]. 2020, vol.37, n.1, pp.27-28. ISSN 1668-7027.  http://dx.doi.org/10.16888/interd.2020.37.1.14.

Organized crime represents one of the most serious problems worldwide. Not only because of the large number of violent deaths and injuries among rival groups and in the general population, but also because of the mental health effects of people living in cities with a high incidence of crime. The direct or indirect victims of crimes such as homicide, kidnapping, extortion, human trafficking, robbery with violence, rape, among others, often develop various symptoms depending on the type of offense, the degree (intensity and duration) of violence to which they were subjected, and the care (medical, psychological, legal) received after the attack. This paper presents the findings of a qualitative study on the process of care for victims of organized crime from the perspective of clinical psychologists. It was conducted in the state of Tamaulipas, in northern Mexico. The purpose of the study was to know the phases of the psychological care process and the clinical strategies used; the cognitive, emotional and social reactions generated in the therapists; the self-care strategies used by psychologists, and the contextual limitations for care. Eight clinical psychologists from different therapeutic approaches participated. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed with the Atlas.ti 7 software, based on Grounded Theory. The results indicate a process of attention with four phases: previous, initial, treatment and closure. In the previous phase, participants identify adult men and women as the main victims of organized crime who attend therapy. Direct victims come for crimes such as kidnapping and extortion. Indirect victims are usually close relatives of the direct victims and come for crimes such as homicide, forced disappearance and kidnapping. In the initial phase, psychologists use the therapeutic alliance, rapport, empathy and the promotion of attachment to treatment. Psychologists with private practice can perform specific actions such as attending the patient’s home when the patient is afraid to leave. The most frequent diagnoses found in this phase are post-traumatic stress disorder, depressive disorders, and anxiety disorders. The treatment phase is characterized by the diversity of techniques used according to the therapeutic model adopted by each psychologist. The closing phase occurs when the patient has emotionally stabilized and therapists seek relapse prevention, so they follow up on cases. During the process of care for victims, therapists have different cognitive, emotional and social reactions; and develop strategies for their personal care, due to the conditions of violence that are experienced in the local context. The most used self-care strategies are to attend a personal therapeutic process, supervise the cases, exercise, eat well, express their emotions, go to natural environments to distract themselves and reduce the number of cases they attend. Among the limitations identified in the process of care for victims of organized crime, therapists mention the need for specialized training, including not only their professional training, but have a procedure or a specific protocol to deal with such cases.

Palavras-chave : Clinical psychologists; Therapeutic intervention; Victims; Organized crime; Qualitative methods..

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