ABSTRACT
The use of forensic psychological assessment of asylum/Convention Against Torture (CAT) claims for Immigration Court (IC) rests on two general principles. They are the expert's in-depth knowledge of the psychological impact of torture and rape, and her or his clear understanding of the way in which such information is germane within the legal context. Individuals seeking political asylum often arrive in the US reporting experiences of severe torture and other psychological trauma as part of their persecution. Mental health assessment of torture in IC is a practice requiring special care because of the impact that it could have on asylum seekers' lives. The question of what psychological testing to conduct, as well as when and how to do so, is highly variable to the circumstances of the overall forensic mental health evaluation. As with all forensic evaluations, a formal assessment of deception, false imputation, feigning, and malingering is an essential component in mental health assessment of torture.
