OBJECTIVETo explore the thinking and method of studying the diagnostic standard for TCM Syndrome Differentiation by means of clinical epidemiological investigation on climacteric syndrome.

METHODSAdopting DME (design measurement evaluation), the field investigation data of 400 patients with climacteric syndrome were statistically managed and analyzed using blind method. The distribution of syndromes, including information of four-diagnosis of various syndromes as well as the laboratory findings in patients were studied using factor analysis and model of structural equation.

RESULTSThe Syndrome types of climacteric syndrome were identified as the Gan-Yang exuberance type, the Shen-Yang deficiency type, the Gan-Shen Yin-deficiency type and the Gan-stagnancy injuring Spirit type.

CONCLUSIONThinking of the diagnostic standard study for TCM Syndrome Differentiation is to identify the supposed diagnostic standard of a disease based on retrospective study, to formulate a new hypothetical standard of Syndrome by way of field investigation, category analysis, factor analysis, and critical theory, followed with identification of Syndrome distribution in the disease, its critical syndrome, typical syndrome, complicated syndrome, and criteria for Syndrome Differentiation.