[Psychiatric diagnosis in general practice. ICD 10-Primary Health Care]

Abstract

Along with Chapter V (F) of ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision) the WHO (World Health Organisation) developed a number of diagnostic instruments for different purposes. The ICD-10-PHC (Primary Health Care) is a short classification system which is to be used in general practice and primary health care. This system is tested in a worldwide field trial. The ICD-10-PHC and the study design in German-speaking countries are described in the following paper. First results of the field trial in Lübeck show that the OFFeral conception of the system was assessed useful (72%). The ease of the diagnostic process was assessed "easy" (30.4%) or "moderate" (47.6%). Between 23% and 34% of the participants of the field trial had proposals for changes. The results show that the ICD-10-PHC can hopefully lead to better standards in the treatment of psychiatric patients in primary care.