Evaluation of individuals referred to the Medical Board of Psychiatry Hospital for guardianship

Objective: We aimed to investigate the reason for the issue of tutelage, review of legal, familial and psychiatric factors and the distribution of cases or diagnoses requiring guardianship for the persons referred by the courts for the determination of the need to guardianship. Methods: This is a retrospective, descriptive study. The data were obtained from official records issued by the Medical Board. Records of 810 individuals referred to the Medical Board of University of Health Sciences ErenkA¶y Mental and Neurological Diseases Research and Training Hospital between January 1st, 2017 and December 31st, 2017 have been examined. Decisions were examined, sociodemographic characteristics and the distribution of these individuals were compared. Results: In 81.7% of 810 individuals, a legal representative was necessary. Thirty-one percent had dementia, 28% had a psychotic disorder, 8.1% had bipolar disorder, 15.2% had mental retardation. It was observed 13.8% did not have any mental or physical disease. In 76.8% of the cases, the decision was ‘guardianship is required’, in 18.3% ‘guardianship is not required’ and in 4.9% ‘legal counselor is required’. There was a significant relationship between illiteracy and guardianship. The rate of request for tutelage was high in disputed divorce cases with the complaint of an illness which causes unsuitable conditions. In these cases, the decision ‘guardianship is not required’ was detected at a higher rate compared to other applicants. Conclusion: In 810 people, the cases with dementia differed from other groups as the whole group necessitated a legal representative. In alcohol and substance use disorder group, the application for custody is less than other groups. Opening a case by relatives was the most frequent. The rate of demand for tutelage was high in disputed divorce cases, hence, no tutelar was required in these cases.