47 can also be psychological in origin . 47 Torture is a particularly strong risk factor for PTSD . Posttraumatic problems among survivors of torture are so widespread that some have claimed that the goal of torture is to induce PTSD and paralyse the agency of survivors . Survivors of torture may experience other psychological disorders as well , including depression , generalised anxiety , panic attacks , physical disorders without detectable physical illness , psychosis , changes in personality , and neuropsychological difficulties . 48 Other psychological effects of torture are associated with major changes in self-esteem , difficulties in maintaining trust and close relationships , and loss of control over one ’ s life . ( For more information on psychological diagnoses , refer to the Appendix .)
KEY TO KNOW
It seems that torture methods are less often physical and more often psychological than they used to be , partly to avoid visible physical injuries to survivors . Sexual humiliation and threats of sexual abuse are examples of psychological torture .
Many studies of torture survivors have focused on migrant populations . This means that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between symptoms that are due to torture , and symptoms that are due to other traumatic experiences or to the legal , economic , and social problems that migrants face . Nevertheless , torture has been shown to have negative long-term effects on mental health beyond the effects of other stressors that migrants experience . It has also been shown that torture is a particularly traumatic event that creates persistent post-traumatic symptoms . From a health policy perspective as well as morally , it is therefore important to recognise the right of torture survivors to rehabilitation . For more information about torture , torture injuries , assessment and documentation see the Istanbul Protocol .