The Hidden Burden: Exploring Psychopathology in Witnesses

Abstract

An individual’s mental health can be significantly impacted by witnessing traumatic events such as crime. This paper aims to examine the psychopathological symptoms that may onset after witnessing such events, including acute stress disorder (ASD), post-traumatic stress disor- der (PTSD), substance abuse, anxiety disorders, depression, dissociative disorders, paranoia, adjustment disorders, sleep and eating disorders, and dissociative disorders. The findings suggest that the literature on possible psychopathologies that can be seen after witnessing is limited, more empi- rical research on this field is needed, and the psychological consequences of witnessing should be examined in detail. Moreover, witness distress is a result of a variety of factors, including the court procedure, regularly giving testimony, and the emotionally charged nature of the trials. Therefore, this paper also underscores the necessity of customised interventions and sup- port systems for witnesses. There seems to be a clear need for identifying the unique psychopathological symptoms that witnesses may show since this will allow for specific treatment methods and better assistance for this vulnerable group.

Keywords

• witness
• psychopathology
• forensic interview
• police

Gizli Yük: Tanıklarda Görülebilecek Psikopatolojilerin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Suç gibi travmatik olaylara tanık olmak, ruh sağlığını önemli ölçüde etkilemektedir. Bu makalede akut stres bozukluğu (ASB), travma sonrası stres bozukluğu (TSSB), madde kullanımı, anksiyete bozuklukları, depresyon, disosiyatif bozukluklar, paranoya, uyum bozuklukları, uyku ya da iştah problemleri gibi tanıklıktan sonra ortaya çıkabilecek psikolojik belirtiler tartışılmaktadır. Sonuçlar, tanıklık sonrası görülebilecek olası psikopatolojilerle ilgili literatürün kısıtlı olduğunu, daha fazla ampirik araştır- maya ihtiyaç duyulduğunu, tanık olmanın psikolojik sonuçlarının ayrıntılı incelenmesi gerektiğini göstermektedir. Ayrıca, tanıklık stresinin mahkeme prosedürü, düzenli olarak ifade vermek, duruşmaların duygu yoğun olması gibi çeşitli faktörlerden kaynaklanabileceği görülmektedir. Bu nedenle, tanıklık durumuna özgün müdahale programlarının geliştirilmesi ve yasal düzenlemelerin yapılması gerekmektedir. Bu çalışma, kendine özgü özel- likleriyle tanıkların hassas bir grup olarak ele alınmalarının ve olası psikolojik semptomlarının belirlenmesinin gerekliliğine açık bir şekilde işaret ederken, bu yaklaşım uygun psikolojik destek almalarının sağlanması açısından büyük önem taşımaktadır.

Keywords

• tanıklık
• görgü tanıklığı
• psikopatoloji
• ifade verme
• adli görüşme

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