What Are The Most Commonly Used ICD-10 Codes for Therapists?

Ever felt a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of ICD-10 Codes and worried about how you'll ever keep them all straight?

Well, fear not! The World Health Organization (WHO) meticulously classifies health conditions, and you can easily access and look up specific ICD-10 codes through readily available resources and online databases.

Let's further demystify the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD-10), the global system used for categorizing and coding various health conditions, including those therapists deal with. In this blog post, we'll take a look at some commonly used ICD-10 codes for therapists.

So why are ICD-10 codes important in therapy? They’re important not only for accurate documentation and coding, but to provide consistent client care and to ensure smooth insurance billing and reimbursement. 

What Are ICD-10 Codes?

ICD-10 codes, brought to you by the World Health Organization (WHO), serve as a universal language for healthcare professionals when documenting diagnosis. They're like a classification system that all medical professionals use to write down patient info correctly, and making billing and insurance more of a breeze. For therapists, these codes are your go-to for categorizing and billing services linked to mental health, behavioral health, and emotional well-being.

Though there are thousands of ICD-10 codes, the good news is that many of them don’t apply to therapy, and better yet, you’ll likely find yourself using the same few on a day-to-day basis. So, let’s go over some of the most commonly used ICD-10 codes for therapists. 

Commonly Used ICD-10 Codes for Therapists

Knowing and correctly selecting mental health ICD-10 codes are a crucial part in getting your claims approved and reimbursed by insurance companies. Use our handy guide of commonly used mental health ICD-10 codes as a reference. 

Most of the mental health ICD-10 codes you’ll encounter as a therapist will fall into the F and Z categories. 

Common F Codes

The most common mental health ICD-10 codes fall into the F category.

F41.1: Generalized Anxiety Disorder

F43.23: Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood

F43.22: Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety

F33.1: Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Moderate

F43.20: Adjustment Disorder, Unspecified

F41.9: Anxiety Disorder, Unspecified

F43.21: Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood

F43.12: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Chronic

F34.1: Dysthymic Disorder

F43.10: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Unspecified

F32.1: Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode, Moderate

F33.0: Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Mild

F32.9: Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode, Unspecified

F90.2: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Combined Type

F60.9: Personality Disorder, Unspecified

F40.228: Other Natural Environment Type Phobia

F41.0: Panic Disorder without Agoraphobia

F90.0: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominantly Inattentive Type

F42.2: Mixed Obsessional Thoughts and Acts

F84.0: Childhood Autism

Common Z Codes

The Z category includes services for diagnostic tests and screenings, as well as instances in which the client doesn’t have a diagnosis but still requires service. 

Z00.4: General Psychiatric Examination, Not Elsewhere Classified

Z03.2: Observation for Suspected Mental and Behavioral Disorders

Z09.3: Follow-Up Examination After Psychotherapy

Z13.3: Special Screening Examination for Mental and Behavioral Disorders

Z13.4: Special Screening Examination for Certain Developmental Disorders in Childhood

Z50.4: Psychotherapy, Not Elsewhere Classified

Z54.3: Convalescence Following Psychotherapy

Z63.0: Problems in Relationship with Spouse or Partner

Z81.8: Family History of Other Mental and Behavioral Disorders

Z91.4: Personal History of Psychological Trauma, Not Elsewhere Classified 

This list of mental health ICD-10 codes is meant to serve as a starting point to guide your diagnosis code selection. Please note, you should not rely solely on the short descriptors to choose a diagnosis code. For complex diagnoses, the DSM-5 will help inform your ICD-10 code decision. As you get more familiar with ICD-10 codes, you may need it less and less. 

Learn More About Using ICD-10 Codes in Therapy with The Cooperative

In the field of therapy, precise diagnosis and documentation are essential for providing effective care and ensuring proper reimbursement. ICD-10 codes in therapy are a vital tool for mental health professionals, as they help categorize and communicate mental health conditions accurately. The codes mentioned in this blog post represent some of the most frequently used ones in therapy practice.

Therapists should stay updated on the latest ICD-10 coding guidelines and regularly review and revise their documentation to reflect their clients' evolving needs. By doing so, therapists can provide the highest quality of care while also ensuring that they are properly compensated for their services.

For more help with ICD-10 Codes and documentation, try out our Pro subscription with a free 30 day trial and access our Therapy Notes Generator tool. Our tool comes with pre-filled ICD-10 codes to make documentation even more of a breeze.