Diagnostic categories Return To Search Page

To help you conduct accurate searches we have provided some further information about topics included under each heading. Most categories include articles across all age groups.

Heading Subheading Description / Examples
Cardiovascular disorders   Myocardial infarction, heat failure, heart surgery, venous ulcers, oedema etc.
Congenital disorders   Spina bifida, Downs Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, etc
Developmental disorders / learning difficulties   Includes Autism spectrum disorder, Developmental Coordination Disorder, ADHD, motor clumsiness, dyslexia, dysgraphia, sensory integration disorder or dysfunction, premature, pre-term, or low birthweight babies.
Endocrine system disorders   Eg. Diabetes
Gerontology-general   Articles specifically including older persons/ elderly that do not have another relevant diagnostic category.
Immune system dysfunction   Eg. HIV, CFS, Polio-myelitis
Intellectual disability   Downs syndrome, other intellectual disability
Mental health / behavioural difficulties   All mental health, including each sucategory
  Affective disorders Depression, Bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, school refusal, Obsessive compulsive disorder
  Behavioural or attentional disorders / difficulties ADHD, Conduct disorder, violence, aggression etc.
  Eating disorders Bulimia, Anorexia Nervosa
  Schizophrenia  
  Substance abuse Alcohol addiction, Drug abuse etc.
  Other mental health Eg. Self harm, suicide risk, general mental health.
Musculoskeletal or connective tissue injuries / disorders / procedures    
  Back or neck condition / injury / procedure Back or neck pain, injury or surgery, scoliosis, osteoporosis involving back/neck etc.
  Burns  
  Hand or upper limb condition / injury / procedure Hand surgery, upper limb amputation, fractures, brachial plexus injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, etc.
  Lower limb condition / injury / procedure Joint replacement, lower limb amputation, hip fractures or falls only if involving hip fracture, etc.
  Rheumatology Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Fibromyalgia, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, etc.
  Other musculoskeletal Osteoporosis (Not prevention of osteoporosis: see public health), myofascial pain, pressure sores, general musculoskeletal pain.
Neurology    
  Neurodegenerative/ Neuromuscular disorders
  • Alzheimer's disease / dementia
Neurodegenerative: Alzheimer's disease / dementia, motor neuron disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, etc. Neuromuscular: Myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophies, motor neuron disease, Guillian Barre, Polio, neuropathies, etc.
  Neurological Injury
  • Brain injury
  • Spinal cord injury
Acquired/traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury.
  Movement disorders
  • Cerebral palsy
Cerebral Palsy, Parkinsons Disease, Huntington's disease, etc.
  Stroke  
  Other neurological Migraine, spina bifida, epilepsy, chonic non-specific neuropathies.
Oncology / palliative care    
Paediatrics-general   Articles focusing on children's issues, that do not have a relevant diagnostic category
Public health / safety   Potential problems at the population / community level and programs for maintaining health of otherwise healthy people. Eg; smoking cessation, obesity programs, falls prevention, workplace preventive programs.
Pulmonary / respiratory conditions   Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Asthma, Cystic fibrosis, etc.
Renal   Dialysis, Renal transplants.
Visual / hearing impairment