Abstract Body

ICD-11 was released by WHO in 2018 and approved by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in 2019. The revision for all chapters was guided by the principles of global applicability, scientific validity and clinical utility. The new chapter for mental health is termed 06 Mental, Behavioural or Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MBND).

The ICD-11 with its chapter on Mental, Behavioural or Neurodevelopmental Disorders, its Mortality and Morbidity Statistics (MMS), Coding Tool and Reference Guide, Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines (CDDG), and other tools for translation and implementation offers an innovative approach for individualised diagnosis, treatment and care of people with mental disorders. For supporting the international process of implementation, WHO has installed an International Advisory Group for Training and Implementation of ICD-11 MBND.

Development, Concept and Structure of ICD-11 will be presented. Selected changes from ICD-10 to ICD-11 like new diagnostic categories, revision of diagnostic criteria, introduction of dimensional symptom qualifiers or course descriptors, and options for complex coding with regard to their innovative strength, controversial potential and impact on diagnostics, treatment and care will be briefly discussed. National challenges for implementation - partly informed by international field trials, administrative, organisational, educational and training requirements - will be outlined.

The new ICD-11 chapter on Schizophrenia or other primary psychotic disorders will serve as an example to discuss potential impact on treatment selection and outcome.

Abstract Body

The EPA Guidance on the Quality of eMental health interventions in the treatment of psychotic disorders (1), based on systematic literature review, found strong evidence that web- and mobile based interventions for people with schizophrenia and/or other psychotic disorders are feasible and acceptable both for patients and caregivers.

There was moderate evidence that eMental health interventions may improve specific elements of mental healthcare processes, such as shared-decision-making, symptom monitoring, disease management, information provision, empowerment, and there was preliminary evidence that they may also improve outcomes by fostering symptom reduction and treatment adherence. E-mental health interventions hold promise to shape the future of mental healthcare delivery through increasing service accessibility, reducing stigma and self-stigma, and providing timely and flexible support to individuals with psychotic disorders and their caregivers.

Nevertheless, it is important to also consider other aspects such as the lack of ethical guidelines and quality assurance mechanisms, and the need to analyse the legal frameworks about eMental health in different nations when developing and implementing eMental health interventions. We did not identify ethical guidelines or quality assurance systems specifically developed for eMental health interventions targeting people with psychotic disorders.

E-mental health interventions are efficacious to increase mental health literacy. We also found preliminary evidence that eMental health interventions are efficacious to treat psychotic disorders.

Recent overviews (2) are coming to similar conclusions. Future research needs to provide better controlled, sufficiently powered studies to provide definite answers to open questions.

Gaebel et al., 2016, DOI 10.1007/s00406-016-0677-6

Donahue, Rodriguez, Shore, 2021, doi.org/10.1007/s11920-021-01242-y