Nosology is the classification of diseases, similar to taxonomy in biology. It has evolved over time and uses criteria such as etiology, pathogenesis, and symptoms to define diseases. Doctors use nosology to diagnose patients, and some branches of medicine have extensive volumes on the subject, such as the DSM in psychiatry.
Nosology is the scientific classification of diseases. Essentially, it’s like taxonomy for the medical world, classifying diseases with the use of a variety of criteria so they can be more easily understood. Like taxonomy, nosology is meant to clearly define the topic under discussion, so that people don’t have to explain what they’re talking about. Just as biologists know that a Sequoia sempervirens is a sequoia, nosologists and doctors know that “diabetes mellitus” is a specific disease that can be defined with clear symptoms.
Just as with regular taxonomy, nosology has evolved considerably over the centuries. One of the earliest attempts to classify diseases took place in the Arab world around the 10th century, and Linnaeus attempted to classify diseases when he was not developing the biological taxonomy system used today. One complication for nosology has been that diseases often present themselves in very different ways, and unlike something like a plant, which presents all of its information at once, a disease can be shy about revealing its nature.
There are several ways to classify diseases. Some nosologists focus on the etiology or cause of disease, using it as a key feature in defining diseases. Others look at the pathogenesis, the physical development of a disease and some focus on the symptoms of the disease. Nosology also usually includes a discussion of which organ system or systems are involved in the disease, allowing people to break things down into categories such as “kidney disorders” or “mental illnesses.”
Study in this field involves laboratory work to demonstrate the hidden nature of the disease, along with fieldwork observing and interacting with patients. Many doctors practice nosology on a daily basis, as they interview patients and piece together their symptoms like pieces of a puzzle to determine which condition the patient has. Along the way, clues to the identity of the problem may also be the keys to solving it, which is why many diseases are classified by etiology. Viral infections, for example, can be treated with antiviral drugs.
Some branches of medicine have published extensive volumes on nosology. In psychiatry, for example, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders contains a complex list of psychiatric disorders along with symptoms and criteria for diagnosis. The DSM, as you know, is constantly being revised to reflect new information in the field of psychiatry.
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