Mental and behavioural disorders in the ICD-11: concepts, methodologies, and current status

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Public Health
• Health Informatics

Background:

• The International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) is crucial for global health statistics and clinical practice.
• The current version, ICD-10, has wide-ranging applications but requires updates to improve utility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the development process, methods, and current status of the Eleventh Revision (ICD-11) for mental and behavioural disorders.
• To enhance the utility of the classification system for clinical practice and health statistics.

Main Methods:

• Expert working groups proposed revised diagnostic guidelines for specific disorder groupings.
• Surveys were conducted to gather suggestions for revisions from practicing health professionals.
• Development of a revised classification structure for mental and behavioural disorders.

Main Results:

• Major revisions proposed for schizophrenia, substance use disorders, affective disorders, and personality disorders.
• Introduction of a new category for "gaming disorder".
• Conditions related to sexual health and gender identity will be classified separately from mental disorders.

Conclusions:

• An ICD-11 beta draft is available for public comment and field studies are ongoing.
• A crosswalk between ICD-10 and ICD-11 criteria is necessary for diagnostic continuity.
• The final ICD-11 version is scheduled for release by the World Health Assembly in 2018.