Socio-demographic, family, clinical and criminal profile of youth offenders at the child and adolescent out patient service of the national center for mental health for the year 2003
- Author:
Bordado Ma. Ruth
;
Rosario Maricon
;
Galindez Edison
;
Triunfo Sharon
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
The Philippine Journal of Psychiatry
2011;33(1):8-10
- CountryPhilippines
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objectives:
The objective of this paper is to determine the individual, family, clinical and criminal characteristics of youth offenders seen a the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Service (OPS) of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) for year 2003.
Method:
This is a retrospective study of the young population who committed acts punishable by law and were referred to NCMH for psychiatric evaluation and management as ordered by the justice system of the Philippines. Data was gathered from hospital records and court reports submitted by psychiatric residents supervised by child and adolescent psychiatrists. The data included individual, family, clinical and criminal characteristics. For the individual and clinical, social, behavioral and educational characteristics were determined as well as psychiatric history and diagnosis using the DSM IV TR criteria. Family profile included a description of the family and for the criminal profile- what crime was committed.
Results:
The study showed that among the youth offenders the male exceeded the female in number (17:1). More than half of them came from major cities and had only primary education. It also revealed that half of them had a history of methamphetamine and inhalant use. The youngest and oldest offenders, were 11 and 18 years old respectively. Theft was the most common crime committed. It also revealed that the offenders had no previous psychiatric consultation prior to the commission of the crime. Seventeen (94.44%) out of eighteen were diagnosed with psychiatric disorders and the most common diagnosis was Mental Retardation.
Conclusion:
Several characteristics were found to be common and can provide a profile of the youth offenders referred for psychiatric evaluation and management. However, there is a need for further exploration to determine their impact on the youth offenders in order to create guidelines for therapeutic as well as preventive programs.
