Abstract :
It is probably reasonable to say that classification in psychiatry has taken a centre stage since its early inception. Several versions have been in clinical use over the years to good effect despite their short comings. However, with the proposed ICD-11 classification on the horizon, we stand a chance of making a leap into the future of mental health practice around the world. As it would be argued in this editorial, several issues need to be addressed. Some are conceptual in relation to terminology, the way symptoms are being clustered, and the thorny and currently hotly debated area of dimensions versus categories. However, there are also cultural and social issues that certainly pertain to different populations around the globe, with particular reference to the Middle East, and the context within which symptoms operate, should be given serious consideration. It will also be argued that ease of use, clinical utility as proposed by the WHO advisory group, and unambiguous terminology, should act as the driving force behind the newly proposed classification system. Furthermore, the upcoming system should also strive to minimize the current inequalities in service provisions and delivery especially in areas where mental health services are most needed.
