A GENERAL THEORY FOR AUTOMATIC DIAGNOSIS

The problem of automatic diagnosis by use of a computer is expressed as an optimization problem in which parameters are chosen to minimize the diagnosis errors in reference to a previously treated set of patients. The results are expressed in terms of statistical measures of mutual associations of symptoms, and of symptoms with diseases. A decision criterion is discussed, and a formula is derived to describe the diagnostic value of each symptom. No assumptions are made regarding mutual exclusiveness of diseases or statistical independence of symptoms.