A genetic-diagnostic survey in an institutionalized population of 173 severely mentally retarded patients.

In this report we summarize the findings in a genetic-diagnostic survey of an institutionalized population of 173 severely mentally retarded patients. The etiological study was based on a clinical genetic approach with special attention for dysmorphology and neurological findings. A constitutional disorder, as the direct cause of the severe mental handicap, was found in 75 patients (43.35%). A detailed survey of the different data and findings are given, and compared with the results of previous studies.