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Familial Genogram Paper

Decent Essays

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.
Keywords: hypothyroidism, genogram

Exploring Familial Hypothyroidism Using a Genogram
A genogram is a tool that is utilized by healthcare professionals to get a visual representation of a patient’s family structure, life cycle stage, life events and family functioning, relationship patterns and triangles, and family balance and imbalance, and most importantly, pattern repetition between generations. Family genograms can also be thought of as a more in-depth family tree. Family physicians benefit from using a family genogram because they offer a unique opportunity in obtaining a patient’s …show more content…

When looking at my genogram, I see a strong genetic presence. Hypothyroidism has been diagnosed in my father, my grandmother on my mom’s side, my mother, all three of my mother’s sisters, one female cousin on my mom’s side, and me. This being said, all adult females on my mother’s side are diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Each of them were diagnosed in their adulthood, where as I was diagnosed at the age of 5. I believe that the early onset was in association with my Type 1 Diabetes. However, it seems to me that there is a clear genetic disposition running in my family. By analyzing my familial, I have concluded that the younger females in my family are also at high risk of developing hypothyroidism at some point in their

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