Multivariate Probit Analysis: A Neglected Procedure in Medical Statistics

Abstract

The multivariate probit model is designed to regress a vector of correlated quantal variables on a mixture of continuous and discrete predictors. Various applications can be found in the biological, economical and psychosociological literature, but the method is not yet widely used in medical applications. We reintroduce this model thereby showing its usefulness in medical problems. Software for this model is, however, not widely available. We have written a PC program to select predictors and estimate parameters in the multivariate probit framework. The performance and characteristics of the program are briefly illustrated