Stereotypy test apparatus and methods
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Abstract
A stereotypy test apparatus 10 is disclosed, which is suitable for interactive use in the diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder. The apparatus comprises an input means in the form of a keypad 14 adapted for physical entry of input signals to the apparatus 10 and a control means 28 which is adapted to prompt a candidate to enter during a test session a succession of said input signals. The control means 28 analyses entered said input signals in order to derive and output from said analysis one or more output signals indicative of at least one value RC, RS which is used in the diagnosis of the presence or absence in said candidate of at least one predetermined psychiatric disorder or of the candidate'"'"'s predisposition theretowards. The input signals comprise a succession of choices (1-9) selected freely by said candidate from a plurality of mutually independent choices (1-9) and a said output signal RC, RS is indicative of repetitive patterns among said candidate choices.
16 Citations
36 Claims
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1-18. -18. (canceled)
- 19. An interactive test apparatus suitable for use in the diagnosis of an emotional, personality or mental disorder, the apparatus comprising an input means adapted for entry of physical input signals to the apparatus and a control means which is adapted to prompt a candidate to enter during a test session a succession of said input signals without producing repetitive patterns in the sequence of input signals and said control means being adapted to process said entered input signals in order to derive and output from said from said processing an output signal indicative of at least one value which is used in the diagnosis of the presence or absence in said candidate of at least one predetermined emotional, personality or mental disorder or of the candidate'"'"'s predisposition theretowards, said input signals comprising a succession of choices selected freely by said candidate from a plurality of mutually independent choices and a said output signal being indicative of repetitive patterns among said candidate choices.
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34. A method of using an interactive diagnostic tool in a diagnostic method for assessing during a test session the presence or absence of a predetermined psychiatric disorder in a candidate or of the predisposition of said candidate towards said disorder, the method including:
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a) offering said candidate a free choice among a predetermined number of user inputs;
b) prompting said candidate to physically input freely a succession of input signals reflecting mutually independent choices from amongst said number, said prompting comprising for example a periodic audio or visual prompt; and
c) analysing said user inputs and determining a value for use in the diagnosis of said presence, absence or predisposition to a said disorder in dependence on the randomness of the choices made by said candidate. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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Specification