title: Indian Psychiatric Society-World Psychiatric Association - World Health Organization survey on usefulness of International Classification of Diseases-10.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  World Health Organization (WHO) is in the process of revising the International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD-10). For increasing the acceptability of the ICD-11, WHO along with World Psychiatric Association (WPA), conducted a survey of psychiatrists around the world, in which 386 psychiatrists from India participated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present the findings of "WPA-WHO Global Survey of Psychiatrists' Attitudes toward Mental Disorders Classification" for Indian psychiatrists who participated in the survey as members of Indian Psychiatric Society.
  
  
  METHODS
  The online survey was sent to qualified psychiatrists who are members of Indian Psychiatric Society and are residing in India.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1702 members who were urged to participate in the survey, 386 (22.7%) participated. Most(79%) of the psychiatrists opined that they use formal classificatory systems in their day-to-day clinical practice. ICD-10 was the most commonly (71%) followed classificatory system. Nearly half (48%) felt the need for only 10-30 categories for use in clinical settings and another 44% opined that 31-100 categories are required for use. Most of the participants (85%) suggested that a modified/simpler classificatory system should be designed for primary care practitioners. Similarly, the same number of participants (89%) argued that for maximum utility of a nosological system diagnostic criteria should provide flexible guidance that allows cultural variation and clinical judgement. About 75% opined that the diagnostic system they were using was difficult to apply across cultures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings of the survey suggest that classificatory systems are routinely used in day-to-day practice by most of the participating psychiatrists in India and most expect that future classificatory system should provide flexible guidance that allows cultural variation and clinical judgement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Ajit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avasthi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maj
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (MER/MSD), World Health Organization 20, Revision of ICD-10 Mental and Behavioural Disorders, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Center, Kattankulathur, Kanchipuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thirunavukarasu
authors.affiliation: Consultant Psychiatrist, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Uttam Chand
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Garg
keywords: ICD-11; India; nosology