PART D – Psychological consequences of torture on individuals
are PTSD, Acute Stress Disorder and major
depression. Furthermore, enduring personality change should also be considered, especially because it takes into account the
potential long terms effects of prolonged extreme stress (Istanbul Protocol, § 256).
The association between torture and PTSD
has become very strong in the minds of
health providers, immigration courts and
the informed lay public. This has created
the mistaken and simplistic impression
that PTSD is the main psychological consequence of torture (Istanbul Protocol, § 252).
Torture-related mental disorders are not limited to depression and PTSD and evaluators
should have comprehensive understanding of all the possible diagnostic categories
among trauma and torture survivors. In this
sense, a detailed evaluation is always very
important. Overemphasizing the PTSD and
depression criteria might result in missing
the other possible diagnoses.
Below you can find a selection of the diagnostic categories which can be considered
during the psychological evaluation of torture allegations.
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