Formal Representation of Temporal Items of the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders

摘要

As a paradigm for abstract, nested time-references occurring in medical domain knowledge we analyze temporal diagnostic items of the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Based on an elicitation of categories of DSM-IV time-references a formal approach to the representation of nested temporal references is proposed. Generic time-related concepts are introduced, which have to be specialized by concepts representing temporal patterns of the diagnostic items. Satisfiability of the knowledge base ensures the conformance to the Time Standards for health care specific problems (a CEN-prestandard).). Terminological inferencs support the nosologic analysis of the DSM-IV classification.