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ICD-11 CDDR — MRCPsych Paper A MCQ

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HardHistory and classificationICD-11 CDDRMRCPsych Paper A

A trainee compares the ICD-11 Mortality and Morbidity Statistics linearization with WHO's Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Requirements for mental, behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders. The latter is not simply a tabular list of reportable codes. Which statement best characterises the function of the Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Requirements?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C — They translate ICD-11 categories into clinically usable diagnostic guidance designed for clinical utility.

Explanation lettering: D = shown as B · E = shown as D · B = shown as E

C is correct. The ICD-11 Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Requirements provide clinically usable guidance for diagnosing mental, behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders within ICD-11, with an emphasis on clinical utility and global applicability. They complement rather than duplicate the statistical coding framework. Unlike rigid operational research criteria, they retain a role for clinical judgement, so A is incorrect. DSM-5-TR is published by the American Psychiatric Association and is not WHO's ICD-11 companion, excluding B. RDoC is a research framework rather than a mandatory clinical validation system, excluding D. E describes the ICD-11 Mortality and Morbidity Statistics linearization, not the CDDR.

Reference: Hualparuca-Olivera L et al. Clinical Utility of ICD-11 Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Requirements for the Classification of Mental, Behavioral or Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Systematic Review. Psychological Reports. 2025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40240886/