A crosswalk from DSM-III-R to ICD-9-CM

The authors describe a crosswalk, or translation, from DSM-III-R to ICD-9-CM. They present differences in the purposes and formatting of these two documents and discuss different levels of compatibility between the two. They demonstrate several problems at the code, rubric, and case levels of compatibility. Ninety-seven percent of DSM-III-R codes are compatible with ICD-9-CM at the case level. The problems in most cases are minor, and in the authors' opinion are not problems in actual clinical or medical records use. The development of DSM-IV and ICD-10 should include attention to translation issues early in the process from the perspectives of clinical work, research, and medical records.