International Classification of Diseases (ICD) in Children: Signs and Support

How International Classification of Diseases (ICD) presents in children and young people, and how parents and teachers can help.

The International Classification of Diseases, or ICD, is a classification system for all physical and mental diseases produced by the World Health Organization (WHO). It’s used for diagnosis, research, reimbursement, statistical tracking, and mortality data.

Mental Health in the ICD and DSM

The ICD and the DSM both categorize and diagnose mental illness. Yet there are key differences between the two. The major distinctions are:

The ICD and DSM help shape how researchers, clinicians, and society understand mental health. While there is substantial overlap between the two, different iterations of the two manuals have added, changed, or removed different diagnoses over time. They both evolve—sometimes together, sometimes apart.

A few other aspects of the relationship between the ICD and DSM include:

• The ICD-11 came into effect on January 1, 2022. Several notable changes to mental disorders include:

Explore More About International Classification of Diseases (ICD)

For a comprehensive understanding of international classification of diseases (icd), read our complete guide:

Complete International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Guide

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