family history

Last reviewed 01/2018

The most relevant family history is that of first-degree relatives, the parents, siblings and children. The health of more distant relatives and certainly that of the spouse, although not a blood relative, can also be important to a patient's well-being.

Factors include:

• general and psychiatric health
• current age of family members
• age and cause of death of family members
• position in family and number of siblings
• consanguinity (especially cousin marriages)