Prisoners who were tortured by the CIA are suing contractor psychologists that came up with a gruesome regime which was part of the US’s response to 9/11.

Psychologists James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen have been handed a federal lawsuit for their role in creating the plan, which included chilling techniques and torture practices.

A US Senate report in late 2014 uncovered the details of the torture, which included mock executions, anal penetration for “rehydration” and the playing of loud music for long periods of time.

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One detainee reportedly died of hypothermia while under the alleged torture in custody.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed the suit against Mr Mitchell and Mr Jessen on Friday on behalf of two survivors and a representative of the deceased, Gul Rahman.

Survivors Abdullah Salim and Mohamed Ahmed have sought damages of at least $US75,000.

“This case is about ensuring that the people behind the torture program are held accountable so history doesn’t repeat itself,” an ACLU attorney, Steven Watt told The Guardian.

“Impunity for torture sends the dangerous message to US and foreign officials that there will be no consequences for future abuses.

“The government has long abused the ‘state secrets’ privilege to prevent accountability for torture but at this stage, any claim that the torture of our clients is a state secret would be absurd.”

Forms of the techniques moved from the US’s secret camps to Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan’s Bagram Airfield and Abu Gharib in Iraq.

The suit alleged one of the litigants tried to kill himself while in custody, while another was kept naked for more than a month and subjected to “a form of waterboarding”.

“You can’t sleep, you can’t eat, you can’t smell,” Mr Salim told The Guardian.

Mr Salim said his CIA captors chained his arms and legs to a metal hoop in his cell forcing him into a squatting position.

He was dumped in ice cold water and then wrapped in a freezing plastic sheet, like other detainees.

According to the lawsuit, Salim hoarded painkillers so he would have a dose strong enough for a suicide attempt.

“Flashbacks come anytime, so much they make you crazy,” Salim said in the video.