A medical care and support program for families with multiple congenital anomalies-mental retardation syndromes (MCA/MR).

A program for treatment--of high medical, emotional and social standard--for families with children with multiple congenital anomalies-mental retardation syndromes (MCA/MR) is presented. Using limited resources, 17 physician hours per family until the child reached the age of seven years, a total of 120 MCA/MR children (52 infants with Down's syndrome) were treated between 1975 and 1984. The medical care and support program included daily sessions with both the parents during the neonatal period, according to the principles of crisis therapy. Consultations were continued with the same doctor at the children's outpatient care unit. This article describes this support program and its outcome to date.