Istanbul protocol, the UN guidelines for effective investigation and documentation of torture : the role of psychiatrists

الملخص EN

The manual on effective investigation and documentation of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, commonly known as the Istanbul protocol (IP), is an interdisciplinary standard supported by the united nations, the world medical association, the world psychiatric association and adopted by most countries and NGOS concerned with human rights.

its main purpose is to provide guidance for health professionals for conducting competent and comprehensive assessment and investigation of the physical and psychological/psychiatric consequences of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, degrading treatments.

moreover, an overall goal of the psychological/psychiatric evaluation is to assess the degree of consistency between an individual’s account of torture and the psychological /psychiatric findings observed during the course of the evaluation.

hence the pivotal role of psychiatrists in conducting assessments for diagnosis of psychiatric disorders(ICD-10 and DSM), common depressive disorders and PTSD.

further, psychiatrists could recommend appropriate treatment interventions for torture victims with psychiatric disorders.

finally, psychiatric evidence of torture is crucial for the protection of torture victims and prosecution of perpetrators in national and international courts in collaboration with legal professionals concerned with the service of justice.

the article aims to inform and guide psychiatrists about their pivotal role in applying the Istanbul protocol and critically discusses issues and challenges of competent psychiatric interviews of survivors of alleged torture in clinical and medicolegal contexts.