International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems

The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD), [MENTAL HEALTH] produced by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is the other commonly used manual for mental disorders.

It  differs from the DSM in that it covers more than mental health. The ICD is used widely in Europe and other parts of the world.

The DSM has been praised for standardising psychiatric diagnostic categories but has also been criticised. It has been argued that the DSM represents an unscientific and subjective system. There are criticisms of the validity and reliability of the diagnostic categories; the reliance on superficial symptoms; the use of artificial dividing lines between categories and from ‘normality’; possible cultural bias; medicalisation of human distress.