Juan E. Mezzich Knihy

This book presents an authoritative overview of the emerging field of person-centered psychiatry. This perspective, articulating science and humanism, arose within the World Psychiatric Association and aims to shift the focus of psychiatry from organ and disease to the whole person within their individual context. It is part of a broader person-centered perspective in medicine that is being advanced by the International College of Person-Centered Medicine through the annual Geneva Conferences held since 2008 in collaboration with the World Medical Association, the World Health Organization, the International Council of Nurses, the International Federation of Social Workers, and the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations, among 30 other international health institutions. In this book, experts in the field cover all aspects of person-centered psychiatry, the conceptual keystones of which include ethical commitment; a holistic approach; a relationship focus; cultural sensitivity; individualized care; establishment of common ground among clinicians, patients, and families for joint diagnostic understanding and shared clinical decision-making; people-centered organization of services; and person-centered health education and research.

The classification of mental disorders improved greatly in the last decade of the 20th century and now provides a reliable operation tool. The first set of papers in this publication present the views on international classification and diagnosis of the WHO and the APA as well as the results of a large international survey on the usage and perceived value of ICD-10 and related diagnostic systems. The second group of papers topically review international experience with current diagnostic systems. The third set delves into some of the key conceptual bases for the development of future diagnostic systems. The fourth group review ongoing work on adaptations of and complements to the ICD. The last section offers incisive commentaries on integrative approaches and future steps. Summarizing the current knowledge of the field of the international system for classification and diagnosis this publication is essential reading for psychiatrists, psychologists as well as public health service.