Investigation Of Sociodemographic And Clinical Features Of Forensic Cases Evaluated In A University Hospital Child And Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic

Objective: We aimed to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of children who are referred to the Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic by the judicial authorities, to determine the causes of forensic reports and to examine the reports prepared by our clinic retrospectively. Method: The files of 177 patients who were referred to Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry between January 2018 and January 2020 for forensic psychiatric evaluation were examined retrospectively. The analysis included sociodemographic data of the cases, clinical diagnoses according to DSM-5, content of judicial events and decisions made. Results: 57.6% of the total cases were delinquent child and 42.3% were victims. While 86.3% of the delinquent child were boys and the average age was 15.4, 70.7% of the victims were female and the average age was 13.3. Delinquent child were taken into psychiatric evaluation most frequently due to theft (36%) and victims were taken into psychiatric evaluation due to sexual abuse (74.3%). Forensic authorities frequently asked about '' whether the ability to perceive the legal meaning and consequences of the act and to direct the behavior in relation to this act is sufficiently developed '' (96.1%); The victims asked for a judicial report on "whether their statements will be trusted" (62%). While medical opinion is reported that 44.8% of the delinquent children have the ability to perceive the legal meanings and consequences of the alleged act and to direct their behavior related to this act; In the question of whether the victims are able to defend themselves physically and spiritually against the act they are exposed to, the medical opinion is reported that 89.3% of them cannot defend themselves spiritually and physically. Conclusion: Children are getting more involved in forensic events day by day and the fact that the reports about these children are guiding in making decisions that seriously affect the flow of their lives increases the importance of forensic psychiatric evaluation.