[Revision of psychiatric classification]

Revisions of both psychiatric classifications, ICD and DSM are in progress. The ICD-11 is scheduled to be published at the earliest in 2011 and the DSM-V in 2013. The scientific basis for a criteria-based psychiatric classification was created in the 1950's when the concept of construct validity was outlined. Additionally, revision of classification of psychiatric disorders was dealt with in several international meetings that made efforts to increase the reliability of psychiatric diagnoses. Central issues in revisions have been, e.g., utility, heterogeneity and overlapping of the categories. Presently, one of the main themes is incorporating dimensional assessment into diagnostics. However, mere dimensionality as grounds for classification, would lead to too much complexity. It is liable that category disorders will be used also in the future in psychiatric classifications.