Bringing the ICD into the 21st Century. How will ICD-11 reflect the evolution in our understanding of neurological disease over the past twenty years?

The WHO, the body responsible for the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is currently preparing the 11th revision (ICD-11) which is scheduled for approval by the World Health Assembly in 2015. Among its many uses, the ICD is the premier tool for clinical coding and capturing morbidity and mortality statistics worldwide. As the revision process passes the halfway stage, it is timely to consider how the neurology chapter is shaping up. We outline the major changes in the classification of neurological disease expected in ICD-11, how these have been influenced by the significant progress in clinical neuroscience over the past two decades and consider the impact the changes will have on users of ICD-11.

WHO has constituted Topic Advisory Groups to assist in revision of specific chapters. The neurology Topic Advisory Group consists of an international group of neurologists, neurosurgeons and members of allied specialties and societies. Their remit is to assist and advise WHO to ensure that the latest revision reflects the progress in our understanding of neurological disease in a manner that is coherent, comprehensive and intuitive. In addition, WHO is ensuring the …