Investigation of Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Forensic Cases Admitted to a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic in Şanlıurfa

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of children and adolescents for whom forensic reports were requested by judicial authorities for various reasons. Materials-Methods: The records of 110 cases referred to our hospital’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department for forensic psychiatric evaluation between January 2022 and December 2022 were evaluated retrospectively. Sociodemographic data of the cases, clinical diagnoses, contents of forensic events, and forensic report decisions were included in the analyses. Results: The mean age of the 110 patients participating in the study was 14.5 ± 2.9 years and 68.2% (n=75) of the cases were male. The judicial authorities directed the cases most frequently (n=53) for evaluating discrimination under the Turkish Penal Code 31/2, and it was determined that crime against property (41.5%) was committed most frequently. Considering the distribution of perpetrator and victim status by gender, a significant difference was found between the two genders (p<0.001). Conclusion: Determining regional differences regarding individual and familial characteristics of child and adolescent forensic cases may contribute to the determination of factors that may adversely affect children's mental health and to the development of preventive mental interventions.