Nature of torture, PTSD, and somatic symptoms among political ex-prisoners.

The authors examined how different types of torture methods are associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and somatic symptoms among political ex-prisoners. Participants were 275 Palestinian men who reported their experiences in detention and imprisonment, PTSD (the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire), and somatic symptoms. A principal component analysis revealed physical torture, psychological torture, sensory discomfort and deprivation, and beatings as dimensions of exposure to torture. Both physical and psychological torture methods were associated with increased PTSD symptoms, especially when combined. Psychological torture was also associated with increased somatic symptoms. The results are discussed in relation to their contribution to the current debate on the nature and definition of torture.