ICD-11 Training

Learning to use the ICD-11 will help clinicians to base their practice on the most advanced understanding to date of mental disorders.

Geoffrey M. Reed

DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

An Interview with Dr. Geoffrey Reed about ICD-11 Training on GCP.Network

1. Why is it important for clinicians around the world to understand and apply the new ICD-11 Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Requirements?

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is the World Health Organization’s standard for the collection and reporting of health information by WHO’s 194 Member States, which allows for comparison of health data worldwide. Many countries will eventually adopt the ICD-11 as the required reporting format for diagnosis and payment for services. 

Even if a country does not adopt the ICD-11 as a clinical reporting standard immediately, using the ICD-11 Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Requirements (CDDR) will help clinicians to base their practice on the most advanced understanding to date of mental disorders. The ICD-10 was developed in the 1980s and reflects the state of knowledge at that time. Over the past thirty years, many discoveries from clinical, basic, and epidemiological research have enhanced our knowledge of mental and behavioural disorders.

The ICD-11 is a classification system that is based on the latest scientific evidence with global clinical input and consensus. By using a classification system that is precise, valid, and clinically useful, clinicians will be able to identify the people who need mental health treatment and make better decisions about management and treatment.

2. What is the Training Course on ICD-11 Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Requirements for Mental, Behavioural or Neurodevelopmental Disorders and how will it enhance implementation of the ICD-11 CDDR?

The Training Course on ICD-11 Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Requirements for Mental, Behavioural or Neurodevelopmental Disorders is a series of 15 online training units developed by the WHO Collaborating Centre at Columbia University, in collaboration with WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Use. 

Each unit is designed to take approximately one to one and a half hours and focuses on a different disorder grouping. Each unit explains the principles underlying the classification in that area and highlights the use of that diagnostic grouping in clinical practice as well as innovations and differences from the ICD-10. For example, the training unit on Schizophrenia or Other Primary Psychotic Disorders discusses using dimensional specifiers to describe an individual’s current presentation, which is more compatible with a recovery-oriented approach and promotes the delivery of individualized treatment. 

The units are also designed to be interactive with knowledge check questions to ensure comprehension. Participants have the opportunity to practice applying the ICD-11 CDDR to clinical case examples so that they can prepare to integrate the ICD-11 into their clinical settings.  

GCP.Network members have exclusive access to the Training Course on ICD-11 CDDR for Mental, Behavioural or Neurodevelopmental Disorders during the pilot phase. We are asking GCP.Network members to provide feedback on the structure and function of the units, thereby participating in the development and refinement of the training. To enhance implementation around the world, the Training Course will be free and available to all professionals once the pilot phase is completed.  Additional materials will also be made available to equip professionals globally to serve as resources and provide training in their own workplaces and countries.

3. Where can I get further training on the ICD-11? 

We are actively working with the WHO International Advisory Group on Training and Implementation for ICD-11 Mental, Behavioural or Neurodevelopmental Disorders, a global group of experts who are developing and evaluating educational, training, and implementation processes of the ICD-11 in their countries. We are collaborating with countries to customize training opportunities so that the trainings are appropriate for specific cultural and linguistic contexts. As part of our commitment to advancing training and implementation around the world, we are also making the online training course available in Spanish and we anticipate that the course will be available in additional languages over time. A list of additional ICD-11 training opportunities can be found here.

4. How can GCP.Network members access the Training Course on ICD-11 CDDR for Mental, Behavioural or Neurodevelopmental Disorders?

GCP.Network members can access the Training Course through our training platform here

The training units are currently in the pilot phase, and GCP.Network members are welcome to submit feedback on the units. GCP.Network members will also receive email notifications when new units are published on the training platform.

To become a GCP.Network member, please first register here. Once you have become a GCP.Network member, please follow these steps:

  1. Create an account on the training platform by selecting “Sign Up.” As you sign up, please provide your information and create your unique password.
  2. Once you have finished creating your account, please wait for 2-3 business days  as we complete a verification process for your account.
  3. After 2-3 business days, please login again on the training platform to begin the training course.

For questions related to the online training platform, please email: [email protected]