Computer-assisted clinimetric tool for the study of facial expression: a pilot validity study.

Abstract

Clinimetrics is the measurement of clinical phenomena; more specifically, it is mensuration, the act of acquiring and labeling basic raw data that is used to describe or measure symptoms, signs, and other distinctly clinical phenomena. Over the last 5 years, a new computer method for measuring facial expression has been developed. Refinement and validation of this technique are necessary before clinical applications are appropriate. Four hundred fifty data points from two human observers and the computed method were compared with one another by using indices of location, dispersion, and association within the framework of the logical construct of validity. These results suggest that the computed method is valid. This new method may be nearly ready for clinical applications as a primary or adjunctive clinimetric tool.