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WHO and the ICD-11 revision
The World Health Organization published the eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) in 2019, taking effect from January 2022.
ICD-11 (2019/2022)
The World Health Organization published the eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) in 2019, taking effect from January 2022. An important change was the move of 'gender incongruence' from the chapter on mental and behavioural disorders to a new chapter on sexual health.
Depathologisation
This move is internationally seen as a depathologisation: gender incongruence is no longer classified as a mental disorder. A diagnosis remains possible to support access to care.
Discussion
The change was welcomed by advocacy organisations. Critics have pointed to the tension between depathologisation and retaining a medical diagnosis for access to care and insurance.
Sources
World Health Organization (2019/2022). ICD-11: HA60 Gender incongruence of adolescence or adulthood. icd.who.int
Coleman, E., Radix, A.E., Bouman, W.P., et al. (2022). Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8. International Journal of Transgender Health, 23(sup1), S1–S259. doi:10.1080/26895269.2022.2100644