Classify and diagnose individual stress using calibration and fuzzy case-based reasoning

Abstract

Increased exposure to stress may cause health problems. An experienced clinician is able to diagnose a person's stress level based on sensor readings. Large individual variations and absence of general rules make it difficult to diagnose stress and the risk of stress-related health problems. A decision support system providing clinicians with a second opinion would be valuable. We propose a novel solution combining case-based reasoning and fuzzy logic along with a calibration phase to diagnose individual stress. During calibration a number of individual parameters are established. The system also considers the feedback from the patient on how well the test was performed. The system uses fuzzy logic to incorporating the imprecise characteristics of the domain. Tne cases are also used for the individual treatment process and transfer experience between clinicians. The validation of the approach is based on close collaboration with experts and measurements from 24 persons used as reference. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.