A study on the ontology building methodology for diseases of mind diagnosis

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to construct a mind counseling ontology to efficiently facilitate the diagnosis of the diseases of mind. To determine the structure of mind counseling ontology, this study conducted analysis on structural forms available in counseling books and other related fields and adopted essential ones in the explanation of counseling. The processing of the diseases of mind was divided into three stages: cause, symptoms and counseling. The stages were analyzed one by one in terms of process, functional elements and relevant technique necessary at each stage. Design/methodology/approach – In the mind counseling list, there are 12 different diagnoses of diseases of mind that are classified into four classes. Thus, the causes, symptoms, prescription and medical history for 12 diseases of mind are defined as a higher rank concept of mind counseling ontology. The causes, symptoms, prescription and medical history consist of definition, affective characteristics and related factors, while the potential diagnosis consists of definition and risk factor. This information does specify detailed notions in the diagnosis of diseases of mind, but considering the limitation of not being able to represent all the diseases, this study enables a counseling center to give and use individual definitions of diagnostic terminology of their own. Findings – This study adopted the top-down approach, in which mind counseling ontology defines a higher rank concept, the terminology in diagnosing diseases of mind, based on the list of terms from the counseling record that specifies the abstract concepts of the diagnosis. The bottom-up approach was also incorporated, which defines the diagnostic terms extracted from the counseling record as a subordinate concept of the mind counseling ontology. Thus, the development of the mind counseling ontology involves the combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches to the construction of ontology. Originality/value – This research has significance in that it deals with the fundamental problem of the mind aiming for a true change and healing of it, which is the ultimate purpose of this ontology, especially in the circumstances where research on ontology in diagnosing the diseases of mind is unprecedented.