Psychological impairments and social disabilities: on the applicability of the ICIDH to psychiatry.

The applicability of the theoretical framework of the ICIDH to the practice of psychiatry is discussed. A critical analysis reveals some major conceptual difficulties with respect to the distinction between mental disorder and psychological impairment, and also between social disability and handicap. The principle of the triaxial classification, impairment----disability----handicap, has eventually been challenged. It is proposed to direct clinical research on psychological impairments as objective signs of psychological dysfunctions, and social disabilities as restrictions of social role performance.