[The new international psychiatric classification ICD-10. I. General principles and historical development]

The new international psychiatric classification, ICD-10, involves changes in the theoretical concept of the existing classification system. The change is associated with a shift of the general concept of medical classification which is influenced in particular by new research technologies, the development of programmes of extramural and social care and the penetration of computing technique into medical research. The contemporary psychiatric classification belongs to the agonistic (atheoretical) model which is typical by its pragmatic, clinical approach to diagnosis and classification. Phenomenology and an operational pattern of the classification is emphasized.