[Experiences with expert assessment in guardianship law from the forensic psychiatry viewpoint]

Analyzing the expert opinions given by an institution of public health on the prerequisites of guardianship, we can discriminate between three groups of individuals: Juveniles reaching majority and young adults who suffer from some form of imbecillity, persons between circa 30 and 70 years of age suffering mainly from schizophrenic psychosis or alcohol dependency, and persons over 70 years of age suffering from dementia. Each group presents special problems for the psychiatric expert, assessment being most difficult in the middle-age group. Further general problems arising in expertising in guardianship cases are discussed, such as the specific role of the expert, prerequisites for assuming limited legal competence, admission to psychiatric hospitals on a nonvoluntary basis and cooperation with other institutions.