Background-People with psychiatric disorders and their family members have expressed interest in receiving genetic counseling (GC). In February 2012, we opened the first (to our knowledge) specialist psychiatric GC clinic of its kind, for individuals with non-syndromic psychiatric disorders and their families. Prior to GC and at a standard one-month follow-up session, clinical assessment tools are completed, specifically, the GC outcomes scale (GCOS, which measures empowerment, completed by all clients) and the Illness Management Self Efficacy scale (IMSES, completed by those with mental illness).

The objective of this document is to provide recommendations for genetic counseling and screening for consanguineous couples (related as second cousins or closer) and their offspring with the goals of1. providing preconception reproductive options2. improving pregnancy outcome and identifying reproductive choices3. reducing morbidity and mortality in the 1st years of life, and4. respecting psychosocial and multicultural issues.The recommendations are the opinions of a multicenter working group (the Consanguinity Working Group (CWG)) with expertise in genetic counseling, medical genetics, biochemical genetics, genetic epidemiology, pediatrics, perinatology, and public health genetics, which was convened by the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC). The consensus of the CWG and NSGC reviewers is that beyond a thorough medical family history with follow-up of significant findings, no additional preconception screening is recommended for consanguineous couples. Consanguineous couples should be offered similar genetic screening as suggested for any couple of their ethnic group. During pregnancy, consanguineous couples should be offered maternal-fetal serum marker screening and high-resolution fetal ultrasonography. Newborns should be screened for impaired hearing and detection of treatable inborn errors of metabolism. These recommendations should not be construed as dictating an exclusive course of management, nor does use of such recommendations guarantee a particular outcome. The professional judgment of a health care provider, familiar with the facts and circumstances of a specific case, will always supersede these recommendations.

SummarySchizophrenia was associated with a distinct autosomal abnormality in two related mildly dysmorphic individuals. The finding of cosegregation of schizophrenia and a partial trisomy of chromosome 5 in the family suggests a potential location of a gene or genes linked to schizophrenia.

There are few published reports of adults with Williams syndrome (WS). We have evaluated ten adult WS patients. The patients in our study were very variable in clinical presentation, ranging from severely affected patients with complicated medical histories to mildly affected patients who are generally in good health. Cardiovascular anomalies and hypertension were frequent. Supravalvular aortic stenosis was seen in four patients, mitral valve prolapse in three, bicuspid aortic valve in one, valvular aortic stenosis in one, and pulmonary stenosis with right ventricular hypertrophy in one. Typical facial features included stellate irides, prominent cheeks, full lips, and micrognathia. Mental retardation was seen in all patients. Verbal skills were better developed than motor skills. All patients in our study lead active lives, and most are involved in sports. Some hold supervised jobs. Eight of our patients live with their parents and two in group homes. Independent living is restricted by their mental and adaptive limitations.

We describe the third family in which fetuses have very narrow cerebral cortical mantles, enlarged ventricles, a peculiar proliferation of cerebral cortical arteries, and hypoplasia of muscle. We describe the youngest fetus yet reported. Previously this condition was interpreted as destructive, perhaps due to infection. We believe it is a primary failure of neuroectodermal cells to form in the ventricular zone with too few resulting cells in cerebral cortex and that the abnormal vascular proliferation is part of the malformation. The involvement of both sexes suggests autosomal recessive inheritance.