Jurors who sat through disturbing testimony at the Robert William Pickton trial could face stress-related disorders in the future, a psychologist and former jurors say.

Dr. Gordon Rose, who has conducted research on the psychological impact trials can have on jurors, said it's a difficult subject to study, because in Canada jurors can't talk about the arguments and deliberations that brought them to a verdict.

"At least some jurors have indicated that they experience stress as a result of not being able to talk with anybody about their experience," said Rose, a psychology lecturer at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C.

Rose added that the law also prohibits jurors from talking to counsellors or medical mental health professionals about what happened.

Pickton, a Port Coquitlam, B.C., pig farmer, is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Sereena Abotsway, Mona Wilson, Andrea Joesbury, Brenda Wolfe, Marnie Frey and Georgina Papin.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The jury is currently deliberating near the B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster.

Chantal Laverdure, who more than seven years ago was one of 12 jurors who found Shannon Murrin not guilty of killing eight-year-old Mindy Tran in Kelowna, B.C., said the trial still haunts her.

She said she'll never forget flipping through the evidence, including the pictures of Mindy Tran's body.

"I just saw the little girl's hair and stuff and it just dawned on me she would never cut her hair again, never ride her bike again. It just dawns on you. I didn't cut my hair for about a year. It bothered me, very strange."

Trial memories bring tears

Laverdure is still in touch with some of her fellow jurors. One of them agreed to talk with CBC News about his experience, but when the photos of Mindy Tran were mentioned, he broke down in tears, and said he simply couldn't put himself back in that place again.

Eric Broadhurst, a juror on the trial of killer Paul Bernardo, said the trial took a toll on him.

"It was very, very upsetting throughout the time while the trial was on. Lots of sleepless nights, hot sweats, diabolical thoughts going through your head," Broadhurst said.

Laverdure said it was also shocking to discover there were things she hadn't been told during Shannon Murrin's trial.

"I was very upset," Laverdure said. "I went and gave 100 per cent and I didn't get 100 per cent back did I? Now if it was to happen again and I was to do jury duty, I would know better.

"They tell you what they want, they keep out what they want and you have to make your own mind up," she said.

In the Pickton case there is a great deal of evidence that was never presented in court because it was deemed to be either irrelevant or legally improper for the jury to hear.

Usually that evidence is released once the verdict is in. But because Pickton is expected to face a second trial on another 20 charges, that evidence will not be released because the judge fears it could prejudice a future jury.