ISSN: 2573-1734
Authors: Mateo-Fernández PV* and Osa-Subtil I
This article examines the impact of psychological trauma on the statements of victims of gender-based violence and the challenges this poses for forensic assessment. Gender-based violence, a global public health problem, often results in psychological trauma that can significantly affect memory and the ability of victims to provide coherent testimony. The article explores how trauma alters cognitive processes, including encoding, storage, and retrieval of memories, and how this manifests in symptoms such as memory fragmentation, dissociation, and hypervigilance. Practical challenges in forensic assessment are discussed, including the misinterpretation of trauma symptoms as indicators of lack of credibility. The article proposes improvements in forensic practice, emphasizing the need for specialized training in psychotrauma for practitioners, the use of trauma-focused assessment methods, and the implementation of more sensitive legal and forensic interventions. Ethical implications are addressed, highlighting the risk of revictimization and the importance of a victim-centered approach. The article concludes by highlighting the need for more empirical research on the impact of trauma on forensic statements, and the importance of developing best practices in the forensic assessment of victims of gender-based violence. Overall, the article argues for a more trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive approach to forensic assessment that recognizes the complexities of psychological trauma and its impact on the memory and narrative of victims of gender-based violence.
Keywords: Gender Violence; Psychological Trauma; Forensic Evaluation; Credibility of Testimony; Traumatic Memory
