Abstract
In TCM, the diagnostic process consists of inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry and palpation. Part of this diagnostic process is the study of the tongue. After careful consideration of all diagnostic information, the treatment points are chosen. During a research project on TCM treatment (weekly treatment for 12 weeks) in patients with chronic schizophrenia, tongue pictures were used in order to monitor treatment progress according to TCM principles. After pre-testing, 12 weeks of treatment, and post-testing; patients were shown their own results on the pre- and post-tests, as well as their own 12 tongue pictures. At that point, tongue pictures turned out to be a great motivation for patients to evaluate their own treatment, to see with their own eyes what changes were, or were not, reached. Moreover, patients concluded that they can personally take an influence in their condition and life, for instance by changing their lifestyles. Many patients reported that, in contrast to their usual antipsychotic medicinal treatment which is evaluated by their psychiatrist and other caretakers, they could really relate to this method of diagnosis and they indicated the willingness to watch their own tongues and work with that. In a group of patients in which treatment compliance is always an issue, this is an important finding. Since all patients in this study suffered from schizophrenia, but not all patients suffered from the same TCM diagnosis, a comparison was made between the patients, according to their tongue diagnosis and tongue pictures in order to come to several subgroups within TCM that might be treated by similar methods. The differentiation of patterns will be presented along with ideas for future research and treatment in this group of chronic patients.
