A Coding System for Patients with Convulsive Disorders and Children with Behavior Disturbances

In order to take advantage of computer technology in clinical neurological research a coding system was devised for patients with convulsive disorders and behavior disordered children. The code sheets are filled in at the time of examination of the patient and this ensures that uniform data are obtained. For the most part, the system consists of graded scales. These cover most of the information which is routinely obtained in a clinical interview and examination. An effort has been made to assign qualitatively different phenomena to separate IBM columns so that direct correlations can be carried out between most of the columns without the need of prior sorting on specific items. The system deals specifically with information related to seizure patients and behavior disordered children but the basic outline is such that it can easily be adapted to any other neurological condition one may wish to study.