The 2022 Royal College of Psychiatrists International Congress took place in Edinburgh, Scotland, on June 20-23.
Professor John Crichton, Dr. John Mitchell, Dr. Corinna Hackmann, Dr. Dirk Maliepaard, and Dr. Geoffrey Reed presented together to highlight how Scotland is moving forward with the implementation of the ICD-11.
During the session, Dr. John Mitchell, who is leading the implementation of ICD-11 Mental, Behavioural or Neurodevelopmental Disorders on behalf of the Scottish government, highlighted the strategic decision for creating the ICD-11 Implementation Group so that government officials, practitioners, and individuals with lived experience can collectively be part of the national implementation process.
Dr. Corinna Hackmann expanded on the importance of incorporating the perspectives of individuals with lived experience of mental illness. Strategies such as understanding individuals’ views on receiving mental health diagnoses, shared decision-making, and clear communication are important to improving clinical care, especially as providers transition to using the ICD-11.
Additionally, Dr. Dirk Maliepaard shared exciting news that psychiatrists in the Highlands region of Scotland have already begun using the ICD-11. Although there were some challenges encountered in implementation, psychiatrists have generally provided positive feedback on the usefulness of the ICD-11 Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Requirements.
Professor John Crichton, Treasurer of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and past Chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, chaired this session and Dr. Geoffrey Reed, Co-Director of the Columbia-WHO Center for Global Mental Health, served as the discussant for the session. Professor John Crichton and Dr. Geoffrey Reed both expressed their support of the Scottish ICD-11 Implementation Group and agreed that ongoing efforts to develop training and educational materials will help advance usage of the ICD-11 in Scotland and in the UK as a whole.
If you are a practitioner interested in learning more about research and training on the ICD-11, please visit the Global Clinical Practice Network to learn more and register for membership.
