THE IMPACT OF PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLENCE ON DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA AMONG LIBERATED PRISONERS IN PALESTINE

Abstract

Background: Palestinian political prisoners are routinely subjected to systematic physical and psychological violence in Israeli prisons, leaving deep and lasting scars on their mental health. After their release, most continue to suffer from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health conditions that hinder their reintegration into society. Psychological support services for former prisoners are inadequate, and they are more vulnerable to chronic trauma despite the serious consequences. Aim: The study was conducted to investigate the effects of physical and psychological violence on raising rates of depression and trauma symptoms in released Palestinian political prisoners. Methodology: The research used descriptive-analytical design on a sample of 204 released prisoners (163 males and 41 females) in various West Bank governorates. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to measure depression, Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS) to measure post-traumatic stress, and semi-structured interviews were conducted (with 40 participants) in order to obtain qualitative information. Correlation and regression, as statistical tests, were applied to investigate the relationship between variables and test hypotheses of the study. Results: The results showed high rates of physical and psychological violence experienced by released political prisoners, and a strong correlation between this violence and increased symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Depressive symptoms ranged from moderate to severe, while trauma symptoms ranged from severe to extremely severe. Physical and psychological violence were found to directly exacerbate depression and PTSD symptoms. Demographic variables, such as gender, age, length of detention, and marital status, also influenced the varying severity of symptoms.

Conclusion: This research demonstrates that exposure to physical and psychological violence is a major factor in the worsening of depression and PTSD among released Palestinian political prisoners. The persistence of these symptoms even after release underscores the need for specialized psychological services, rehabilitation programs, and community support to facilitate their reintegration into society and aid their recovery. The study recommends conducting periodic psychological assessments, providing specialized counseling services, and implementing psychosocial support programs specifically designed to meet the needs of former prisoners.