ICD-10 field trial in German-speaking countries--summary, judgement and perspectives

On the basis of the results of the field trial, the most important classificatory innovations of ICD-10, together with their advantages and disadvantages are described. The initial good acceptance of the new system could be further improved by structural modifications, such as a uniform and systematic description of the individual diagnostic categories. Criticism of content was focused on affective and neurotic disorders and adult personality disorders. When it is introduced, the psychiatric chapter of ICD-10 will surpass most of the hitherto existing psychiatric classification systems in size, differentiation and international testing.