Feasibility, suitability, and interrater reliability of ICD-10 during different stages of the ICD-10 field trial

A total of 134 clinicians in 10 centres participated in the WHO-initiated field trial in German-speaking countries prior to the introduction of ICD-10 (chapter V; categories F00-F99. Mental, Behavioural, and Developmental Disorders), and provided 1,778 diagnostic assessments of 90 cases. Since these assessments were made in different phases of the field trial, the present study investigated how the "feasibility" and "suitability" of the so-called "Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines" was assessed within the individual phases. In addition, the interrater reliability of diagnostic assessments for the respective phases was investigated. The results show that ICD-10 was accepted both at the beginning of the study, and after several months of use. With respect to interrater reliability, improvements in some of the categories are necessary.