Functioning and disability associated with mental disorders: the evolution since ICIDH

The International Mental Health Task Force participated actively from the outset of the revision of the ICIDH and development of the ICF. The Task Force was responsible for development of all aspects of functioning and disability associated with mental disorders. Building upon knowledge gained since the publication of the ICIDH, it had unique responsibility for development of the ICF chapter on mental functioning. It was also responsible to assure the ICF section on activities and participation integrated and reflected the functioning and disability associated with mental disorders without the redundancy of ICIDH. As context to the revision, the article describes the relationship of diagnostic classifications of mental disorders with disability, and analyses the mental disorder aspects of impairments and disabilities in the ICIDH. Membership in the Task Force represented diversity in geographical, cultural, professional, and personal perspectives on disabilities. This diverse acumen was focused on a range of activities that both specified the unique aspects of functioning and disability associated with mental disorders and assured inclusion of the mental health perspective on the domains of functioning and disability common to physical conditions. Finally, the article notes four current applications of the ICF that are inclusive of the mental health perspective.