NLM Classification 2023 Winter Edition Now Available

Scope of the 2023 Winter Edition

The major focus of the 2023 winter edition was the evaluation of the 2023 MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) vocabulary for inclusion in the Classification index. Several additions and changes were made to the Index and Schedules based on this review. All main index headings are now linked to the 2023 vocabulary in the MeSH Browser. Additional minor updates were made to the Index and Schedules.

Summary Statistics for the 2023 Winter Edition

• 27 New Class Numbers
• 15 Modified Class Numbers
• 1 Canceled Class Number
• 2 Modified Schedule Headers
• 47 New Index Headings - (37 from 2023 MeSH)
• 86 Modified Index Headings
• 3 Deleted Index Headings

Examples of Additions and Changes Based on MeSH 2023

New 2023 Headings Added to Index by Tree (and Related Maintenance)

Of the 262 new 2023 MeSH descriptors, only 37 were added to the NLM Classification index. Below is the list of 2023 index terms added by MeSH tree category as well as other relevant classification maintenance done:

Organisms [B]

• Human Papillomavirus Viruses

Diseases [C]

• Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome was added to caption at WC 506.5)

Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment [E]

• Clinical Relevance
• Nerve Conduction Studies (new number created: WL 141.5.N3 Nerve conduction studies)
• COVID-19 Drug Treatment
• Blood Banking

Psychiatry and Psychology [F]

• Suicide Prevention
• Psychological Well-Being (Psychological well-being was added to caption at WM 101)
• Family Structure
• Family Support
• Group Dynamics

Phenomena and Processes [G]

• Food, Processed (new number created: WA 708 Processed food)

Disciplines and Occupations [H]

• Cytology
• Artificial Life
• Evidence Gaps
• Paramedicine (Paramedicine was added to caption at WA 290)

Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena [I]

• Forensic Microbiology
• Tobacco Control
• Residential Segregation

Named Groups [M]

• Navajo People
• Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
• Maori People    
• Combat Medics
• Paramedics
• Gynecologists
• Obstetricians
• Traditional Medicine Practitioners (WZ 112.5.T7 caption changed from Traditional healers to Traditional medicine practitioners)
• African People
• European People
• White
• Oceanians
• Pacific Island People

Health Care [N]

• Working Conditions
• Blood Donation
• Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
• Resource-Limited Settings
• Access to Primary Care

Main Index Headings Changes Based on MeSH 2023

Of the 27 MeSH headings that were changed, only 14 affected the NLM Classification.

2022 MeSH	2023 MeSH
African Americans	Black or African American
Amputation	Amputation, Surgical
Aneurysm, Dissecting	Aortic Dissection
American Native Continental Ancestry Group	American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian Americans	Asian
Asians	Asian People
Blacks	Black People
Hantavirus	Orthohantavirus
Homeless Persons	Ill-Housed Persons
Inuits	Inuit
Alaskan Natives	Alaska Natives
Reconstructive Surgical Procedures	Plastic Surgery Procedures
Waste Water	Wastewater
Whites	White People

Note: The following 2022 changed MeSH headings were deleted from the index:

• American Indians or Alaska Natives
• Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia
• SARS Virus

Table G (Geographic Notation) Addition/Changes

The following geographic notations were added based on the new Z1 MeSH 2023 additions:

• JA7—Asia, Southern
• LM2—Maldives

The following geographic notation was modified based on the Z1 MeSH 2023 change:

• JA14—Far East was changed to Asia, Eastern

List of All Class Numbers Added for the 2023 Winter Edition

New Number	Class Name
W 26.55.C6	Computer simulation
W 26.55.D4	Digital technology
W 26.55.I3	Information management
WA 708	Processed food
WL 141.5.N3	Nerve conduction studies
WM 420.5.R4	Reality therapy
WM 450.5.A7	[In psychotherapy] Aromatherapy
WS 350.25	[Child] Art therapy
WS 350.32	[Child] Bibliotherapy
WS 350.35	[Child] Hypnosis
WS 350.36	[Child] Imagery
WS 350.37	[Child] Music therapy
WS 350.39	[Child] Person-centered psychotherapy
WS 350.52	[Child] Psychotherapy, brief
WS 350.53	[Child] Psychotherapy, psychodynamic
WS 350.56	[Child] Transference
WS 464.5	[Adolescent] Art therapy
WS 465.2	[Adolescent] Bibliotherapy
WS 465.5	[Adolescent] Hypnosis
WS 465.6	[Adolescent] Imagery
WS 465.7	[Adolescent] Music therapy
WS 466.3	[Adolescent] Person-centered psychotherapy
WS 468	[Adolescent] Transference
WT 152.3	[Aged] Behavior therapy
WT 152.6	[Aged] Psychoanalytic therapy
WT 152.7	[Aged] Socioenvironmental therapy
WT 153	[Aged] Sensory art therapies

Class Number Canceled for the 2023 Winter Edition

Canceled Number	Class Name	Now Classed In
W 26.55.V6	Virtual reality	W 26.55.C6

2023 Summer Edition

The 2023 summer version will be published at the end of August 2023. It will encompass the systematic review of the WR Dermatology and WW Ophthalmology schedules and other miscellaneous updates.