Research Article

Evaluation of Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Children and Adolecents Under Court-Ordered Health Measures: A Retrospective Chart Review

Volume: 10 Number: 1 April 29, 2026
TR EN

Evaluation of Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Children and Adolecents Under Court-Ordered Health Measures: A Retrospective Chart Review

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of children and adolescents who were followed up in the child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic under court-ordered health measure. 

Materials and Methods: This study is a cross-sectional and retrospective analysis of 287 cases under court-ordered health measure. The analyzed data encompass sociodemographic characteristics, information related to parents, reasons for health precaution decisions, psychiatric diagnoses, and adherence to follow-up and treatment. 

Results: The sample comprised 287 participants, with a mean age of 13.08 ± 4.15 years; 53.7% were female (n=154), and 46.3% were male (n=133). Adolescents constituted 64.8% (n=186) of the sample, while children comprised 35.2% (n=101). The most common reason for implementing health precautionary measures was neglect, accounting for 25.1% (n=72) of cases, followed by risky behaviors at 19.5% (n=56) and sexual abuse at 18.1% (n=52). Over half of the participants (56.8%, n=163) received at least one psychiatric diagnosis, with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (23.3%, n=67) being the most frequent, followed by conduct disorder (13.9%, n=40) and major depressive disorder (13.6%, n=39). 

Conclusion: Our findings reveal that court-ordered health measures are frequently based on critical protection concerns such as neglect, risky behaviors, and sexual abuse, with age and gender playing a decisive role in the decision-making process. These results highlight the need for multidimensional, interdisciplinary approaches to improve the well-being of children and adolescents. Strengthening the coordination and quality of existing follow-up mechanisms and developing targeted early-intervention programs may enhance the effectiveness of these protective processes.

Keywords

Project Number

AEŞH-BADEK-2024-795

Ethical Statement

The local ethics committee approved the research protocol (ethics committee decision date: 28.08.2024; decision number AEŞH-BADEK-2024-795) and was in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Thanks

The authors would like to thank the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Etlik City Hospital.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Psychiatry

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

April 29, 2026

Submission Date

March 11, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 26, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 1

APA
Harputlu Yamak, Y., & Demirkol Tunca, R. (2026). Evaluation of Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Children and Adolecents Under Court-Ordered Health Measures: A Retrospective Chart Review. Ahi Evran Medical Journal, 10(1), 108-119. https://doi.org/10.46332/aemj.1655653
AMA
1.Harputlu Yamak Y, Demirkol Tunca R. Evaluation of Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Children and Adolecents Under Court-Ordered Health Measures: A Retrospective Chart Review. Ahi Evran Med J. 2026;10(1):108-119. doi:10.46332/aemj.1655653
Chicago
Harputlu Yamak, Yağmur, and Ruken Demirkol Tunca. 2026. “Evaluation of Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Children and Adolecents Under Court-Ordered Health Measures: A Retrospective Chart Review”. Ahi Evran Medical Journal 10 (1): 108-19. https://doi.org/10.46332/aemj.1655653.
EndNote
Harputlu Yamak Y, Demirkol Tunca R (April 1, 2026) Evaluation of Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Children and Adolecents Under Court-Ordered Health Measures: A Retrospective Chart Review. Ahi Evran Medical Journal 10 1 108–119.
IEEE
[1]Y. Harputlu Yamak and R. Demirkol Tunca, “Evaluation of Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Children and Adolecents Under Court-Ordered Health Measures: A Retrospective Chart Review”, Ahi Evran Med J, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 108–119, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.46332/aemj.1655653.
ISNAD
Harputlu Yamak, Yağmur - Demirkol Tunca, Ruken. “Evaluation of Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Children and Adolecents Under Court-Ordered Health Measures: A Retrospective Chart Review”. Ahi Evran Medical Journal 10/1 (April 1, 2026): 108-119. https://doi.org/10.46332/aemj.1655653.
JAMA
1.Harputlu Yamak Y, Demirkol Tunca R. Evaluation of Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Children and Adolecents Under Court-Ordered Health Measures: A Retrospective Chart Review. Ahi Evran Med J. 2026;10:108–119.
MLA
Harputlu Yamak, Yağmur, and Ruken Demirkol Tunca. “Evaluation of Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Children and Adolecents Under Court-Ordered Health Measures: A Retrospective Chart Review”. Ahi Evran Medical Journal, vol. 10, no. 1, Apr. 2026, pp. 108-19, doi:10.46332/aemj.1655653.
Vancouver
1.Yağmur Harputlu Yamak, Ruken Demirkol Tunca. Evaluation of Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Children and Adolecents Under Court-Ordered Health Measures: A Retrospective Chart Review. Ahi Evran Med J. 2026 Apr. 1;10(1):108-19. doi:10.46332/aemj.1655653

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