Forensic Psychiatric Evaluation of Sexual Crime Cases

Abstract

Objective: Sexual crimes are one of the most offensive crimes committed against individuals. Given that individuals from every age and both genders are affected from this action. It appears as a serious problem that threatens society and preventive measures have to be taken against it. It is an undeniable fact that; mental health seriously affected by sexual assaulted or abuse. In this study, we aimed to evaluate forensic psychiatric examination reports of the cases that are send to examine whether or not any permanent psychiatric impairment after sexual assault or abuse.

Methods: Findings from examination of cases which are sent to Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical Faculty of Celal Bayar University between October 2012 and February 2014 for determining permanent psychiatric impairment were evaluated.

Results: Number of examined cases was 55 and number of diagnosed cases was 33. The age range of cases were from 7 to 77 years (SD=20.39±13.17). Of the cases; 57.6% (n=19) were younger than 18, 87.9% (n=29) were women, 63.7% (n=21) were simple sexual assaulted or abused, in the 72.8% offender was known by cases, in the 30.3% (n=10) crime happened at the home of offender or case. As a result of forensic psychiatric evaluation, in the %30.3 of cases (n=10) were detected permanent psychiatric impairment.

Conclusion: Examination of cases has to be performed scrupulously because, permanent psychiatric impairment by sexual crimes, not only negatively affect case his/her social environment but also it is a country's laws punishment-enhancing factor.

Key words: Sexual assault, sexual abuse, mental health, forensic psychiatry.

Keywords

• Sexual assault, sexual abuse, mental health, forensic psychiatry

Forensic psychiatric evaluation of sexual crime cases

Öz

References

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