solitary confinement is considered to be a form of psychological torture with measurable long-term physiological effects when the period of confinement is longer than a few weeks or is continued indefinitely. according to a law review article by elizabeth vasiliades, america's detention system is far below the basic minimum standards for treatment of prisoners under international law and has caused an international human rights concern: "u.s. solitary confinement practices contravene international treaty law, violate established international norms, and do not represent sound foreign policy."