ICD-10 Coding for Recurrent Depression(F33.0, F33.1, F33.2, F33.3, F33.4, F33.9)
Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Recurrent Depression. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.
Also known as:
Related ICD-10 Code Ranges
Complete code families applicable to Recurrent Depression
F33.0-F33.9Primary Range
Major depressive disorder, recurrent
This range covers all recurrent episodes of major depressive disorder, categorized by severity and presence of psychotic features.
Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code
Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection
| Code | Description | When to Use | Key Documentation |
|---|---|---|---|
| F33.0 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, mild | Use when the patient presents with mild recurrent depressive symptoms. |
|
| F33.1 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate | Use when the patient presents with moderate recurrent depressive symptoms. |
|
| F33.2 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent severe without psychotic features | Use when the patient presents with severe recurrent depressive symptoms without psychosis. |
|
| F33.3 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent severe with psychotic features | Use when the patient presents with severe recurrent depressive symptoms with psychosis. |
|
| F33.4 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, in remission | Use when the patient is in full remission from recurrent depressive disorder. |
|
| F33.9 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, unspecified | Use only when specific details about the episode are unavailable. |
|
Clinical Decision Support
Always review the patient's clinical documentation thoroughly. When in doubt, choose the more specific code and ensure documentation supports it.
Key Information: ICD-10 code for recurrent depression
Essential facts and insights about Recurrent Depression
Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for depression recurrent
Decision Criteria
clinical Criteria
- Patient exhibits 2-3 mild depressive symptoms.
Applicable To
- Recurrent mild depressive episodes
Excludes
- Single episode depressive disorder (F32.x)
Clinical Validation Requirements
- Presence of 2-3 symptoms such as low mood, sleep disturbance, and fatigue
Code-Specific Risks
- Under-coding severity if symptoms are more pronounced
Coding Notes
- Ensure documentation specifies 'recurrent' and 'mild'.
F33.1 - Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate
Use when the patient presents with moderate recurrent depressive symptoms.
Applicable To
- Recurrent moderate depressive episodes
Excludes
- Single episode depressive disorder (F32.x)
Clinical Validation Requirements
- Presence of 4-6 symptoms such as low mood, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and poor concentration
Coding Notes
Ensure documentation specifies 'recurrent' and 'moderate'.
F33.2 - Major depressive disorder, recurrent severe without psychotic features
Use when the patient presents with severe recurrent depressive symptoms without psychosis.
Applicable To
- Recurrent severe depressive episodes without psychosis
Excludes
- Single episode depressive disorder (F32.x)
Clinical Validation Requirements
- Presence of ≥7 symptoms with significant functional impairment
Coding Notes
Ensure documentation specifies 'recurrent' and 'severe without psychosis'.
F33.3 - Major depressive disorder, recurrent severe with psychotic features
Use when the patient presents with severe recurrent depressive symptoms with psychosis.
Applicable To
- Recurrent severe depressive episodes with psychosis
Excludes
- Single episode depressive disorder (F32.x)
Clinical Validation Requirements
- Presence of ≥7 symptoms with psychotic features
Coding Notes
Ensure documentation specifies 'recurrent' and 'severe with psychosis'.
F33.4 - Major depressive disorder, recurrent, in remission
Use when the patient is in full remission from recurrent depressive disorder.
Applicable To
- Recurrent depressive disorder in full remission
Excludes
- Single episode depressive disorder in remission (F32.x)
Clinical Validation Requirements
- No depressive symptoms for ≥2 months
Coding Notes
Ensure documentation specifies 'recurrent' and 'in remission'.
F33.9 - Major depressive disorder, recurrent, unspecified
Use only when specific details about the episode are unavailable.
Applicable To
- Recurrent depressive disorder, unspecified
Excludes
- Single episode depressive disorder, unspecified (F32.x)
Clinical Validation Requirements
- Lack of specific details about severity or psychotic features
Coding Notes
Avoid using unless absolutely necessary due to unspecified details.
Documentation & Coding Risks
Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Recurrent Depression to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code F33.0.
Impact
Clinical: Leads to inadequate treatment planning., Regulatory: Increases risk of audits., Financial: May result in denied claims or reduced reimbursement.
Mitigation Strategy
Use specific language to describe symptoms and severity., Regularly update patient records with current status.
Impact
Reimbursement: May lead to reduced reimbursement due to lack of specificity., Compliance: Increases risk of audits and compliance issues., Data Quality: Decreases data quality and accuracy in patient records.
Mitigation Strategy
Ensure documentation includes severity and psychotic features to use specific codes.
Impact
Reimbursement: Incorrect coding can affect reimbursement rates., Compliance: Non-compliance with coding standards., Data Quality: Impacts the accuracy of patient history and treatment plans.
Mitigation Strategy
Review patient history to confirm if episodes are recurrent.
Impact
Frequent use of F33.9 can trigger audits.
Mitigation Strategy
Ensure comprehensive documentation of symptoms and severity.
Documentation errors, coding pitfalls, and audit risks are interconnected aspects of medical coding and billing. Addressing all three areas helps ensure accurate coding, optimal reimbursement, and regulatory compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ICD-10 coding for Recurrent Depression, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.
Documentation Templates for Recurrent Depression
Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Recurrent Depression. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.
Recurrent depression with moderate symptoms
Specialty: PsychiatryRequired Elements
- Patient history of depressive episodes
- Current symptomatology
- PHQ-9 score
- Treatment plan
Example Documentation
Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation
Poor Documentation Example
Good Documentation Example
Explanation
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