In the realm of medical diagnosis coding, the ICD-10-CM system is crucial for accurate classification and billing. Within this system, Diagnosis F43.23, officially termed “Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood,” holds a specific and important place. This code is utilized to classify cases where individuals exhibit a combination of both anxiety and depressive symptoms as a reaction to identifiable stressors.
The code F43.23 is a billable and specific code within the ICD-10-CM, meaning it is valid for medical claims and precisely identifies the condition. Introduced in the 2016 ICD-10-CM edition (effective from October 1, 2015), F43.23 has remained consistently valid through the 2025 edition, which became effective on October 1, 2024. This continuity underscores its established role in diagnostic classifications. It’s important to note that while F43.23 is the American ICD-10-CM version, international versions of ICD-10 F43.23 might have variations.
The diagnosis F43.23 falls under the broader category of F43, “Reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders.” Specifically, it is a subcategory of F43.2, “Adjustment disorders.” This places it alongside related codes such as Adjustment disorder with depressed mood (F43.21) and Adjustment disorder with anxiety (F43.22), highlighting its position within a spectrum of stress-related and adjustment-related mental health conditions. Clinicians use diagnosis code F43.23 when a patient’s presentation includes a notable mix of both anxious and depressive symptoms that are clearly linked to a stressor but do not meet the full criteria for other anxiety or depressive disorders.
Synonyms for diagnosis F43.23 include “Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed” and “Adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features.” These terms are clinically interchangeable and help provide a clearer understanding of the condition being coded. For coding and billing purposes, using the specific code F43.23 is essential for accurate reimbursement and data collection.
Understanding diagnosis F43.23 is crucial for healthcare providers, coders, and billing professionals to ensure accurate medical record-keeping and appropriate claim submissions within the US healthcare system. The consistent validity of this code since 2015 emphasizes its ongoing relevance in classifying and addressing adjustment disorders with mixed emotional features.
