ICD-10 as a Coding Tool in Psychiatry

Objective: The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the structure, construction principles and coding conventions of importance for the application of the Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) in the coding of psychiatric diagnoses. Method: The method involved an extensive review of the various versions of ICD-10 and ICD-10-related documents, instruments and literature. Results: ICD-10 differs from its predecessors in many ways including the introduction of a novel alphanumerical coding scheme; development of the concept of a “family” of disease and health-related classifications; inclusion of diagnostic guidelines and explicit criteria for mental disorders; production of the mental disorders chapter of the classification in different versions and for different types of users; and provision for incorporation of nationally relevant coding standards which facilitates preparation of national adaptations of the classification such as the Australian Modification of ICD-10 or ICD-10-AM. Conclusions: Relatively late and slow implementation of ICD-10 into psychiatric coding practices in Austra