Research Article
The Pattern Element Scale: A Brief Tool of Traditional Medical Subtyping for Dementia
| Number | Pattern element | Clinical feature item | Weight score |
| | | Limp and aching lumbar | 5 | | | Urinary incontinence | 5 | | | Deafness | 4 | 1 | Kidney deficiency | Sexual hypoactivity | 4 | | | Frequent micturition with clear urine | 3 | | | Dizziness and tinnitus | 2 | | | Thready and weak pulse | 1 | | Total | | 24 |
| | | Decrease of diet and anorexia/reduced appetite | 4.5 | | | Involuntary drooling | 4 | | | Sloppy stool | 3.5 | 2 | Spleen deficiency | Weakness of four extremities | 3 | | | Decrease of diet and abdominal distension | 3 | | | Pale tongue with indentation on margin | 3 | | | Slow pulse | 2 | | Total | | 23 |
| | | Shortage of breath and disinclination of talking | 5 | | | Spontaneous perspiration | 5 | | | Palpitation | 4 | 3 | Qi deficiency | Hypodynamia | 3 | | | White and lusterless complexion | 3 | | | Hyperarousal and timidity | 2 | | | Thready pulse | 2 | | Total | | 24 |
| | | Sallow complexion | 5 | | | Pale tongue and lip | 4 | | | Dizziness | 3.5 | 4 | Blood deficiency | Palpitation | 3 | | | Ennui and hypodynamia | 2 | | | Numbness of extremities | 2 | | | Thready pulse | 2 | | Total | | 21.5 |
| | | Red and dry tongue | 5 | | | Thin tongue fur | 4.5 | | | Dry eyes | 4.5 | 5 | Yin deficiency | Emaciation | 4.5 | | | Thready and rapid pulse | 3 | | | Dry stool | 3 | | | Night sweat | 3 | | Total | | 27.5 |
| | | Chilly | 5 | | | Cold limbs | 4 | | | Diarrhea almost every morning around three to five o’clock | 4.5 | 6 | Yang deficiency | Difficulty in micturition | 3.5 | | | Blue and purple lip or nail | 3 | | | Pale tongue with watery tongue fur | 3 | | | Weak and sunken pulse | 2 | | Total | | 25 |
| | | Dysbasia | 5.5 | | | Drumble/bradyphagia | 5 | | | Aching limbs and tibia | 5 | 7 | Marrow deficiency | Loss of tooth/teeth | 4.5 | | | Thin pale tongue | 3.5 | | | Dry and withered hair | 3.5 | | | Somnolence | 2 | | Total | | 29 |
| | | Irritable mood and irascibility | 5.5 | | | Dizziness and vertigo | 5 | | | Tremoring tongue | 4.5 | 8 | Yang hyperactivity | Subsultus tendinum or jumping of muscle | 4 | | | Tinnitus with a loud wavelike sound | 4 | | | Headache | 4 | | | Wiry pulse/stringy pulse | 3 | | Total | | 30 |
| | | Halitosis | 5 | | | Yellow tongue fur | 5 | | | Red complexion | 4 | 9 | Endogenous heat | Red tongue | 4 | | | Constipation with dry stool | 2.5 | | | Bitter taste in mouth | 2 | | | Rapid pulse | 2 | | Total | | 24.5 |
| | | Excessive phlegm | 5 | | | Greasy and turbid tongue fur | 3 | | |
Enlarged tongue | 2.5 | 10 | Phlegm muddiness | Nausea | 3 | | | Distension and fullness in chest and stomach | 3 | | | Slippery pulse | 3 | | | Dizziness and demented/madness | 2 | | Total | | 21.5 |
| | | Petechia in tongue | 6 | | | Dark purple tongue | 5 | | | Absurd and bizarre thoughts | 4 | 11 | Blood stasis | Dark purple lip | 3.5 | | | Grayish complexion | 3.5 | | | Stabbing pain or oppressive pain | 3 | | | Rough pulse | 2 | | Total | | 27 |
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