R: Find all possible trajectories through a given multi-state...

paths {mstate} | R Documentation

## Find all possible trajectories through a given multi-state model

### Description

For a given multi-state model, specified through a transition matrix, `paths` recursively finds all the possible trajectories or paths through that multi-state starting from a specified state. DO NOT USE for reversible or cyclic multi-state models.

### Usage

    paths(trans, start = 1)

### Arguments

`trans` | The transition matrix describing the multi-state model, see `msprep`
`start` | The starting state for the trajectories

### Details

The function is recursive. It starts in `start`, looks at what states can be visited from `start`, and appends the results of the next call to the current value (matrix). If the transition matrix contains loops, the function will find infinitely many paths, so do not use `paths` for reversible or cyclic multi-state models. A warning is not yet incorporated!

### Value

A matrix, each row of which specifies a possible path through the multi-state model.

### Author(s)

Hein Putter <H.Putter@lumc.nl>

### Examples

    tmat <- matrix(NA,5,5)
    tmat[1,2:3] <- 1:2
    tmat[1,5] <- 3
    tmat[2,4:5] <- 4:5
    tmat[3,4:5] <- 6:7
    tmat[4,5] <- 8
    paths(tmat)
    paths(tmat, start=3)

[Package mstate version 0.3.1 Index]