Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 and Beyond (ICD-11)

“A classification is the reification of an ideological position, of an accepted stand of theory and knowledge. It means creating, defining or confirming boundaries of concepts. These in turn define ourselves, our future and our past…” (Sartorius, 1991). The 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), Chapter V on Mental and Behavioral Disorders (World Healthorganization [WHO], 1992, 1993), and the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) have been adapted to the current clinical and scientific knowledge of mental disorders. Because ICD-10 has adapted the primarily descriptive and criteria-related approach from DSM-111, the general structures of both classifications are quite similar. However, complete congruency between ICD-10 and DSM-IV has not yet been reached.