GENOGRAM

Amanda Yufika, MD, MSc

Department of Family Medicine
Faculty of Medicine, Syiah Kuala University
WHAT IS GENOGRAM?
GENOGRAM: INTRODUCTION
 Genogram / McGoldrick-Gerson study / Lapidus schematic / family
diagram
 A pictorial display of a person’s family relationships and medical
history
 It goes beyond a traditional family tree by allowing the user to
visualize hereditary patterns and psychological factors that
punctuate relationships
WHY DO WE NEED
GENOGRAMS?
GENOGRAM: PURPOSES
 Used in: medicine, psychiatry, psychology, social work, genetic
research, education, etc

 Can be used to identify patterns of behavior and to recognize

hereditary tendencies
HOW TO DRAW A
GENOGRAM?
DRAWING A GENOGRAM
 Genograms are often drawn by hand, can be also created using
graphics or word processing program
 Examples of genogram programs:
 http://www.genogramanalytics.com/
 http://www.ilogotec.com/igenogram-1-8/
 http://www.genopro.com/genogram/
 http://www.genogramanalytics.com/
SYMBOLS
 A genogram is created with simple symbols representing the gender, with various
lines to illustrate family relationships
 Some genogram users also put circles around members who live in the same living
spaces
 Genogram symbols will usually have the date of birth (and date of death if applicable)
above, and the name of the individual underneath
 The inside of the symbol will hold the person’s current age or various codes for
genetic diseases or user-defined properties e.g abortions, still-births, etc
 It can include many generations, however, four generations may prove to be enough
detail
SYMBOLS
RULES
 The male parent is always at the left of the family and the female
parent is always at the right of the family.
 A spouse must always be closer to his/her first partner, then the
second partner (if any), third partner, and so on...
 The oldest child is always at the left his family, the youngest child
is always at the right his family.
CONTENT
 A genogram can contain a wealth of information on the families
represented
 It will not only show the names of people who belong to your
family lineage, but how these relatives relate to each other
 One of the advantages of a genogram is the ability to use color-
coded lines to define different types of relationships such as family
relationships, emotional relationships, and social relationships
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
EMOTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
SOCIAL
RELATION
SHIPS
FAMILY GENOGRAM:
EXAMPLE
FAMILY GENOGRAM: EXAMPLE
FAMILY GENOGRAM: EXAMPLE (WITH
EMOTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS)
EXERCISE 1

DRAW YOUR FAMILY GENOGRAM

EXERCISE 2:
DRAW A FAMILY GENOGRAM FROM THIS
SCENARIO
 Mr. Richard (59 yo) married to Mrs. Hanna (57 yo) and have two daughters
(Ruby, 33 yo and Ashley, 30 yo). Ruby is married to Ricky (36 yo) with two
kids: Alex (6 yo) and Amy (3 yo). Meanwhile, Ashley is married to David (33
yo) with twins: Henry and Sabrina (2 yo)
 Mr. Richard is the 3rd child of 5, of Mr. Allen (passed away in 2004) and Mrs.
Rose (passed away in 2006). The 5 siblings are (in birth order, the 1st to 5th):
Mr. Tom, Mrs. Nicole, Mr. Richard, Mr. Brad, and Mrs. Susan
 Meanwhile, Mrs. Hanna is the 2nd child of 4, of Mr. Isaac (died in 1983) and
Mrs. Mary (77 yo). The 4 siblings are (in birth order, the 1st to 4th): Mr. Charlie,
Mrs. Hanna, and twins Mrs. Julia and Mrs. Judith.
GENOGRAM IN
MEDICINE
GENOGRAM IN MEDICINE
 Medical genograms provide a quick and useful context to evaluate
an individual’s health risks
 Knowledge of diseases and conditions that occur within a family
can give a health team invaluable information that may aid in a
swift, accurate diagnosis and treatment
 Knowledge of diseases and illness that “run” in families can give
individuals an important head start in pursuing effective preventive
measures
 Helpful in determining patterns of diseases or illness within a
family
GENOGRAM IN MEDICINE
MEDICAL GENOGRAM:
EXAMPLE
MEDICAL GENOGRAM:
EXAMPLE
EXERCISE 3

DRAW YOUR MEDICAL GENOGRAM

EXERCISE 4:
DRAW A MEDICAL GENOGRAM FROM THE
PREVIOUS FAMILY GENOGRAM
 Mr. Richard (59 yo) was diagnosed with hypertension, while Mrs. Hanna (57 yo) has
an asthma. Their daughter Ashley (30 yo) has rhinitis allergy. Ruby is not diagnosed
with any kind of allergies, however, her son Alex was diagnosed with asthma, like his
grandmother. Meanwhile, Ashley’s twins are allergic to lactose
 Mr. Allen, Mr. Richard’s father, (passed away for Hemorrhagic stroke due to long-
time hypertension). As for his siblings, Mrs. Nicole was diagnosed with heart disease,
while Mr. Brad is a smoker
 Meanwhile, Mr. Isaac, Mrs. Hanna’s father died in 1983 due to Hepatitis C.
Meanwhile, his wife, Mrs. Mary has lived with hypertension and CHF. Her sibling,
Mrs. Julia also suffers from asthma.
THANK
YOU…