Computer Procedures for Psychiatric Classification

FORTUNATELY we need to know neither the causes nor mechanisms involved in disease processes in order to recognize their presence and treat them effectively. In spite of progress in medical science which has led to the understanding of physicochemical processes involved in many disorders, many areas remain in which we must rely on descriptive definition in terms of signs, symptoms, and laboratory measures. In the area of functional psychotic disorders, diagnostic classification of patients is still largely based upon symptom characteristics. The nature and variety of symptoms found in psychiatric patients makes diagnosis a formidable task for the clinician. At a time when computer capabilities are being seriously considered in other areas of medical diagnosis 1-3 examination of the usefulness of these techniques for psychiatric diagnostic classification seemed worthwhile. Psychiatric Classifications The present article briefly summarizes progress made to date in the development and evaluation of several different computer procedures