International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICFDH) and Cultural-Activity Approach of L.S. Vygotsky – A.N. Leontiev – A.R. Luria

Abstract

The actual problem of implementation and use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICFDH) in the work of clinical psychologists taking into account Russian psychological tradition discussed. There is a necessity of operationalizing the ICFDH domains for specialists of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation team, which will facilitate the use of the ICFDH in rehabilitation work for diagnosis, planning and implementing the rehabilitation program and evaluating its effectiveness. The operationalization of the ICFDH domains based on clinical and psychological content is considered. The cultural-activity approach as a methodological basis of clinical and psychological rehabilitation is proposed and the relationship of the major components of the ICFDH with the psychological activity structure (according to A.N. Leontiev) discussed. The different levels of human functioning considered in the ICFDH (in particular, functions, activity, participation) are compared with the levels of activity (psychophysiological functions, operations, actions and activities) according to A.N. Leontiev. It is argued that the process of clinical and psychological rehabilitation can only take place at the level of concrete actions, and not at the level of activity or operations.