Dr. Raymond Chan from the Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology was invited as an expert to participate in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Consensus Conference in Barcelona, Spain from May 12-14, 2015. The conference was organized by the ICF Research Branch in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the University of Barcelona.

The ICF provides a framework and system for classifying the typical spectrum of problems in functioning, given the environmental context in which subjects live. ICF Core Sets are subgroups of ICF items selected to capture those aspects of functioning that are most likely to be affected by specific disorders. The aim of this conference was to identify the ICF Core Sets and made the consensus of the identified Core Sets for schizophrenia. These Core Sets were developed in parallel with the ICD system for diagnosis and help to provide the useful standard for research, clinical practice and teaching. The ICF Core Sets for schizophrenia also aims to stimulate research and improve understanding of functioning, health and environmental factors in schizophrenia. The ICF Research Branch of the WHO has invited 20 international experts in schizophrenia research  and clinical practice, including Prof. Michael Green from UCLA, Prof. Morris Bell from Yale Medical School, Prof. Stephen Wood from University of Birmingham, and Prof. Peter Mckenna from Barcelona. These scholars have contributed significantly to the field of schizophrenia research and clinical practice.

After a 3-day full discussion and debate, the panel had come up with the final core sets for schizophrenia. The ICF Research Branch in collaborating with the WHO and the University of Barcelona will compile these core sets and plan for further subsequent actions for the documentation and training of these core sets to the researchers and clinicians in the field of schizophrenia.