CIM-10
The WHO's International Classification of Diseases, used in particular across Europe and in Switzerland.
What is it?
The CIM-10 (Classification Internationale des Maladies, 10th revision; in English, ICD-10) is published by the World Health Organization. It covers all diseases and health problems, including a chapter dedicated to mental and behavioural disorders.
It is the reference classification for health statistics and billing in many countries, including Switzerland. Its successor version, ICD-11, came into force in 2022 and is being rolled out gradually.
Why it is used
The ICD makes it possible to code a diagnosis in a standardised way on a global scale, which facilitates epidemiological monitoring and the coordination of care.
The DSM-5 and the ICD overlap considerably for most disorders, with occasional differences in thresholds or terminology. The two are complementary references.
Its limits
Like the DSM, the ICD offers categories that simplify a complex reality. It serves for classification and coding, not to replace individual clinical assessment.
This page is for informational purposes only. It does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional.