EXPERIENCES OF TORTURE AND ILL-TREATMENT AND POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER SYMPTOMS AMONG PALESTINIAN POLITICAL PRISONERS

The relationship between the nature and severity of experiences of tor ture and ill-treatment and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) sympto ms was studied in 550 male nonhelp-seeking Palestinian political ex-pr isoners from the Gaza Strip. Results showed that the more a prisoner h ad been exposed to physical, chemical and electric torture, psychologi cal ill-treatment, and sensory deprivation or bombardment, the more he subsequently suffered from intrusive reexperiencing, withdrawal and n umbness, and hyperarousal. Existential problems were not related to to rture experiences. Furthermore, duration of imprisonment, health probl ems during the imprisonment, harassment during arrest and after releas e, family, marriage and economic difficulties all predicted intrusive reexperiences of trauma. Also, ex-prisoners who continued to be harass ed by military authorities and had economic problems suffered more fro m withdrawal, numbness, and hyperarousal than others.