A Companion to the Classification of Mental Disorders provides essential reading as a background and supplement to both the recently produced DSM-5 and the forthcoming ICD-11. It focuses on the processes of classification and diagnosis, and the uses for these classifications. The book emphasises the dangers of regarding any current psychiatric classification as true or complete, in view of the present partial state of knowledge about the causes and mechanisms of most mental and behavioural disorders.
This book is unique in containing a number of chapters that give a brief history of the cooperative efforts and projects necessary for the production of internationally agreed psychiatric classifications. The discussion begins in 1965 with the US/UK Diagnostic study, the preparations for ICD-8 with its first international glossary, and the International Pilot Study of Schizophrenia, designed and coordinated by the World Health Organization. While recognizing the importance of the innovations of the DSM series of classifications of the American Psychiatric Association, the book also takes a truly international perspective. The expert authors are well placed to do this, having been personally involved in many of the collaborative studies and developments discussed.
A Companion to the Classification of Mental Disorders is an illustration of how much international collaborative work has been necessary over several decades to produce the currently agreed classifications. There is still a long way to go, but a start has been made.

Professor Cooper graduated from Oxford University (Lincoln College), and completed his clinical training at UCH London and postgraduate psychiatric training at Royal Bethlem and Maudsley Hospitals and Institute of Psychiatry, London, where he was leader of the UK team of the US/UK Diagnostic Project. Subsequent posts include consultant psychiatrist at Royal Bethlem and Maudsley Hospitals and vice-dean of Institute of Psychiatry; Foundation Professor of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham Medical School (1972-1991). In all clinical work, John Cooper has been interested in development of close relationships between hospital psychiatry and psychiatry in primary care. Prof. Cooper was Consultant advisor to WHO in the development of ICD-8, ICD-9, and ICD-10, participant in WHO studies on schizophrenia, and WHO consultant on development of mental health services in United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Norman Sartorius was Director of the World Health Organization's mental health programme from 1977 - 1993, President of the World Psychiatric Association from 1993 - 1999 and has been President of the European Psychiatric Association since 1999. Dr Sartorius holds professorial appointments at the Universities of London, Prague and Zagreb and is Senior Associate of Faculty at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. Dr Sartorius is among the world's leading authorities on fighting stigma, co-morbidity of mental and physical illness, public health aspects of psychiatry and psychiatric education