The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)

A common framework for describing health and health related states is needed in order to make this information comparable and of value. The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), which has been approved by all its member states, provides this common language and framework. The article provides an overview of the ICF taxonomy, introduces the conceptual model which underpins the ICF and elaborates on how the ICF is used at population and clinical level. Furthermore, the article presents key features of the ICF tooling environment and outlines current and future developments of the classification, in particular the conceptual and operational alignment of ICF and ICD in the context of the ongoing ICD revision process. Finally, the paper examines the formulation of disability in the diagnosis of mental disorders in ICD and DSM and argues for separate operational assessment of disability through the ICF and ICF based assessment instruments such as the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0).