Genetic Family History

This paper explores the concept of a familial genogram and the insight a familial genogram can provide. I have utilized three published articles to help clarify what a genogram is and what it is used for, what hypothyroidism is and its genetic components, and the connection hypothyroidism has to mental health. I have attached a familial genogram that explores the prevalence of hypothyroidism in my family tree. My diagram begins with my grandparents, through my parents, aunts and uncles, down to myself, my siblings and my cousins.

A genogram is defined by Corey and Corey as being a “graphic representation of one’s family of origin.” These graphic representations can contain basic geometrical shapes and lines; “pictures, art, or even video.” (Corey, 2014) Galvin elaborates by stating, “Genograms represent intergenerational family maps. They usually depict family members, the relationship among them, and information about the family members and their experiences. A genogram builds from members’ demographic information and also includes information such as critical events in the family’s or members’ history and major life-cycle transitions.”

The propensity for specific disease processes are found when analyzing a client’s family tree history. Typically, completing a genogram with at least three generations can show which disease processes show a pattern in a specific family tree. As figure 1 shows, the current generation has a predisposition for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. The history complied spans four generations, with three generations on the paternal side, father, grandfather, grandmother, and great-grandfather, contracting heart disease, either suffering from a heart attack, having high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. On the maternal side, there is little information past the second generation. However,

This image above, is a genogram of my family. It includes both my dad’s side of the family, the Zwanzigers, and part of my mom’s side of the family, the Pechotas. The communication patterns on the Zwanziger side of the family and the Pechota side of the family are different from one another. Both of my dad’s parents are deceased and his only sister lives in South Carolina so we do not get to see each other very much. When my grandpa and grandma were alive, they also lived in Iowa and my dad’s sister and her family lived in Illinois so they would come to Iowa more often to see my grandma and grandpa and my family. Now that my grandparents are no longer living and my aunt and uncle live farther away, we do not get to see them nearly as much as we use to. When we do get to see them though, a lot of times our communication between each other, is telling family stories. According to Galvin, Braithwaite, and Bylund (2015), family stories are told in order “to remember, to create belonging and family identity, to teach expected behavior and deeply held values to current and future members, to develop the family culture, to connect generations, to manage stress, and to entertain” (p. 100). When our families get together, we love to tell stories about our Grandpa and Grandma Zwanziger.

Family is a multifaceted entity that shapes an individual’s identity throughout their life. The interpersonal experiences gained through interactions often leads to the assumption of roles and development of communication styles influencing the families’ conflict handling and resolution styles. In family counselling, a genogram is drawn out to understand family’s developmental stage, intergenerational patterns and to develop therapeutic interventions. This essay will present my family genogram with an aim to reflect on the adjustment issue faced to transition into the role of a new mother, whilst wrangling with the potentiality of losing my father to a life –threatening heart attack. It will endeavour to present an analytical overview of the

The National Institute of Health (2014) listed the most common form of familial hyperinsulinism to be an autosomal recessive genetic defect that is common among the Ashkenazi Jewish population. This condition affects 1 in 66 carriers who are Ashkenazi Jews since they have reported consanguineous marriages (NIH, 2014). Among Ashkenazi Jews, two single ABCC8 mutations account for 90 percent of cases of familiar hyperinsulinism (Mazor-Aronovitch, et al, 2007). The incidence of FHI in individuals of northern European descendants is approximately 1:30,000 live births. The incidence is increased in genetically isolated populations with a high prevalence of consanguinity (UpToDate.com).

A genogram is a type of family tree, but with more detailed information. It is often used as a diagnostic and assessment tool by physicians or counselors to obtain individual and family history in order to help in the establishment of a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Genetics - Certain genes can lead someone to have a higher risk of type 1 diabetes

This examination compiled the following information: Grandmother “C” has BRCA1 trait resulting in double mastectomy at age 35, prior to diagnosis Grandmother “C” only medical condition was hypertension,. Mother “M” information was obtained. Mother "M" provided the

Catherine and I filled out the Medical Health History of the Family and created a family genogram.

The goal: To identify the difference in severity of FH for the homozygous and heterozygous genotypes. Also, to learn about statins.

hereditary disorder of Caucasians in the United States and is the most common cause of chronic

As controversy rises over the ability to test embryos for genetic defects one must chose a side. In this essay I will be examining the debate over the ability to screen for familial hypercholesterolemia in embryos. Familial hypercholesterolemia is a condition which often kills children before puberty. This condition causes elevated cholesterol and can cause angina at a young age. Many children with this disease die at a young age and most suffer at least one heart attack by their thirties. There is however, a treatable version of this disease which is the heterozygous variation. 1 in 500 people develop the heterozygous disease while 1 in 250,000 people develop the more serious homozygous variation. Critics argue that the ability to test for Familial hypercholesterolemia will allow couples to destroy embryos that have the potential to live healthy lives. In this essay I will argue that genetic testing for familial hypercholesterolemia is permissible.

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia current drug therapy statins, bile acid sequestrates, or other lipid lowering agents that lower cholesterol levels with relative success. Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is not treated well with standard lipid-lowering medications and needs costly methods to lower LDL-like apheresis or a liver transplant. HoFH occurs approximately 1 in 1 million births, creating a small population to gather data about treatments for this rare disease state. 1 Studies have shown that the best role of Juxtapid in familial hypercholesterolemia is as adjunctive therapy

There are different types of families, and what one may consider to be part of a family, another might not. For instance, not everyone believes a pet is part of a family, while others may treat their pets as their own biological children. Family is often defined as “any group of persons closely related by blood, as parents, children, uncles, aunts, and cousins” (“Family,” 2016). This paper will synthesize information regarding my family, including my personal family genogram, my family artifacts, and analysis of my family dynamics, which will discuss family roles, cultural aspects values and beliefs, and other components of family. Also, this paper will examine the impact of family of origin in terms of how I would approach other family systems