The International Classification of Diseases

In epidemiology, health management, and clinical settings, the International Classification of Diseases is a vital diagnostic tool. It is used worldwide. India also relies heavily on ICD for diagnosis. The ICD is maintained by the World Health Organization.

​

The ICD has had several revisions since it first came into being around the early 1900s. With each revision came some evolution and improvement. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released ICD-11. This release was presented at the World Health Assembly on May 25, 2019 for adoption by member states, and came into effect on January 1, 2022.

​

Until recently, ICD-10 was widely used. The ICD-10-PHC includes 28 mental disorders common in primary care (dementia and delirium, drug, alcohol and tobacco use disorders, acute and chronic psychosis, depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, phobic disorders, mixed anxiety and depression, adjustment disorder, dissociative disorder, unexplained somatic symptoms, eating disorders, sleep problems, sexual disorders, child psychiatry issues, e.g., mental retardation, hyperkinetic disorder, conduct disorders, enuresis, bereavement). ICD-11 draws its authorship globally and is open to the public for submissions. It offers guidance for its use with different cultures as well as translations into 43 different languages. In this way, the revised system provides a common coding language that can be used by healthcare professionals and researchers worldwide, which will aid in international comparisons and usage.

​

The ICD is used by physicians, nurses, and other health professionals, as well as administrators, scientists, researchers, and health insurance companies, among others. It assists your psychiatrist, psychotherapist, or mental health nurse in accurately diagnosing your symptoms and providing the most appropriate treatment for you.