In Multi-Perspective Palm Reading the hand is described to represent a system involving 5 major perspectives, which together describe how 'structure' and 'function' represent complementary phenomena. Additionally, these 5 major perspectives of the hand are sub-divided in 9 minor levels which are being used to describe the significance of hand signs for individual themes. A high standard is set with two basic rules which describe how: (1) combinations of significant hand signs for every theme are required to relate to at least 4 out of the 5 major perspectives, and (2) for individual themes an additional requirement is set which relates to at least 1 specific level out of the 9 minor levels.

During the 20th and 21th century the global (academic) scientific community produced countless of reports where hands are being described to represent either a diagnostic instrument, or to represent a tool that is used investigate the etiology of various 'themes', such as: syndromes, diseases & personality related features. However, the significance of individual hand signs becomes usually manifest in multiple themes; the significance of individual hand signs also tends to vary for every single theme.

In 2011 Multi-Perspective Palm Reading was presented as a new diagnostic-concept serving the purpose to describe guidelines for how to make a (reliable) diagnostic-assessment for specific themes.

In 2014 the guidelines have been updated, and 2 basic rules were derived from the findings which have been reported so far for 8 individual themes, including:
Down syndrome, Fragile-X syndrome, diabetes-mellitus (type 1 & 2), psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, schizophrenia & the Big Five personality dimension Extraversion.