Understanding F Diagnosis Codes: A Comprehensive Guide

In the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), diagnosis codes starting with the letter “F” are dedicated to Mental, Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental disorders. This chapter provides a structured framework for classifying a wide range of conditions affecting mental health and neurodevelopment. For professionals in healthcare, especially those in automotive repair who encounter clients from diverse backgrounds, understanding these categories can offer valuable context and improve communication. This guide offers a detailed overview of the F Diagnosis Codes, breaking down each major category within this chapter.

F01 to F09: Mental Disorders Due to Known Physiological Conditions

This section covers mental disorders that areDirectly caused by recognized physiological conditions. These are not primary psychiatric illnesses but rather mental symptoms arising from underlying physical health issues.

F01 Vascular dementia: Dementia caused by cerebrovascular disease, such as strokes.
F02 Dementia in other diseases classified elsewhere: Dementias that occur as a result of other specific diseases like HIV or Parkinson’s.
F03 Unspecified dementia: When dementia is diagnosed but the underlying cause is not specified.
F04 Amnestic disorder due to known physiological condition: Memory impairment resulting from a medical condition.
F05 Delirium due to known physiological condition: A state of acute confusion and altered awareness caused by a medical condition.
F06 Other mental disorders due to known physiological condition: This category includes various other mental disturbances that are secondary to a physical illness.
F07 Personality and behavioral disorders due to known physiological condition: Changes in personality and behavior as a direct consequence of a medical condition.
F09 Unspecified mental disorder due to known physiological condition: Used when a mental disorder is present due to a physiological condition, but it doesn’t fit neatly into the above categories.

F10 to F19: Mental and Behavioral Disorders Due to Psychoactive Substance Use

This extensive category addresses disorders that arise from the use of psychoactive substances, including dependence, abuse, and withdrawal states.

F10 Alcohol-related disorders: Disorders related to alcohol use, including dependence and intoxication.
F11 Opioid-related disorders: Disorders related to opioids such as heroin, morphine, and prescription pain relievers.
F12 Cannabis-related disorders: Disorders related to cannabis use.
F13 Sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic related disorders: Disorders linked to the use of sedatives, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety medications.
F14 Cocaine-related disorders: Disorders related to cocaine use.
F15 Other stimulant-related disorders: Disorders related to other stimulants like amphetamines and methamphetamines.
F16 Hallucinogen-related disorders: Disorders related to hallucinogen use, such as LSD or magic mushrooms.
F17 Nicotine dependence: Dependence on nicotine, primarily from tobacco products.
F18 Inhalant-related disorders: Disorders related to inhalant use, such as solvents or aerosols.
F19 Other psychoactive substance-related disorders: This category covers disorders related to the use of multiple drugs or substances not specified above.

F20 to F29: Schizophrenia, Schizotypal, Delusional, and Other Non-Mood Psychotic Disorders

This section is dedicated to psychotic disorders that are not primarily characterized by mood disturbances. Schizophrenia and related conditions significantly impact perception, thought, and behavior.

F20 Schizophrenia: A chronic disorder characterized by disturbances in thought, perception, emotions, and behavior.
F21 Schizotypal disorder: A personality disorder characterized by eccentric behavior, thought and perceptual distortions, and social anxiety.
F22 Delusional disorders: Disorders where the primary symptom is persistent delusions without other psychotic symptoms.
F23 Brief psychotic disorder: Psychotic symptoms that last for a short period (less than a month), often triggered by stress.
F24 Shared psychotic disorder: Also known as folie à deux, where delusions are shared between two or more people in close relationship.
F25 Schizoaffective disorders: Conditions that include symptoms of both schizophrenia and mood disorders (like mania or depression).
F28 Other psychotic disorder not due to a substance or known physiological condition: Psychotic disorders that do not meet criteria for specific psychotic disorders and are not substance-induced or due to a medical condition.
F29 Unspecified psychosis not due to a substance or known physiological condition: When psychosis is present but does not fit specific criteria and is not linked to substances or medical conditions.

F30 to F39: Mood (Affective) Disorders

Mood disorders, also known as affective disorders, are characterized by significant disturbances in mood, affecting emotions, behavior, and daily functioning.

F30 Manic episode: A period of abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, increased activity or energy.
F31 Bipolar disorder: Characterized by episodes of both mania and depression, with periods of normal mood in between.
F32 Major depressive disorder, single episode: A period of at least two weeks of depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities.
F33 Major depressive disorder, recurrent: Recurrent episodes of major depression.
F34 Persistent mood (affective) disorders: Long-term mood disorders like cyclothymia and dysthymia, which are less severe but chronic mood disturbances.
F39 Unspecified mood (affective) disorder: When a mood disorder is present but doesn’t clearly fit into the specific categories above.

F40 to F48: Anxiety, Dissociative, Stress-Related, Somatoform and Other Nonpsychotic Mental Disorders

This category groups together a variety of nonpsychotic mental disorders including anxiety disorders, stress-related conditions, and somatoform disorders where psychological issues manifest as physical symptoms.

F40 Phobic anxiety disorders: Anxiety disorders characterized by excessive and irrational fear of specific objects or situations (e.g., agoraphobia, social phobia).
F41 Other anxiety disorders: Includes generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, which are characterized by persistent worry and panic attacks, respectively.
F42 Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Characterized by recurrent intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions).
F43 Reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders: Disorders that develop in response to significant life stress, including PTSD and adjustment disorders.
F44 Dissociative and conversion disorders: Conditions where there is a disruption in identity, memory, consciousness, or sensory/motor function, often related to psychological stress.
F45 Somatoform disorders: Disorders where psychological distress manifests as physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by a medical condition.
F48 Other nonpsychotic mental disorders: This category includes neurasthenia and depersonalization-derealization syndrome, covering other specified nonpsychotic conditions.

F50 to F59: Behavioral Syndromes Associated with Physiological Disturbances and Physical Factors

This section includes behavioral syndromes linked to physiological disturbances and physical factors, covering eating disorders, sleep disorders, and sexual dysfunctions not due to substance use or medical conditions.

F50 Eating disorders: Disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior and body image.
F51 Sleep disorders not due to a substance or known physiological condition: Primary sleep disorders like insomnia and narcolepsy, not caused by substances or medical conditions.
F52 Sexual dysfunction not due to a substance or known physiological condition: Sexual disorders that are not the result of substance use or medical conditions, such as erectile dysfunction or female orgasmic disorder.
F53 Mental and behavioral disorders associated with the puerperium, not elsewhere classified: Mental disorders related to childbirth, such as postpartum depression.
F54 Psychological and behavioral factors associated with disorders or diseases classified elsewhere: This code is used when psychological or behavioral factors significantly affect the course or outcome of physical diseases.
F55 Abuse of non-psychoactive substances: Abuse of substances that are not typically considered psychoactive, such as laxatives or antacids.
F59 Unspecified behavioral syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors: When behavioral syndromes related to physiological factors are present but not specifically categorized.

F60 to F69: Disorders of Adult Personality and Behavior

Personality and behavior disorders are characterized by long-standing patterns of maladaptive behavior, cognition, and inner experience, deviating from cultural expectations.

F60 Specific personality disorders: Includes various personality disorders such as paranoid, schizoid, antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic, avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders.
F63 Impulse disorders: Disorders characterized by the inability to resist impulses to perform acts that are harmful to oneself or others, like pathological gambling or kleptomania.
F64 Gender identity disorders: Disorders related to distress and discomfort with one’s assigned gender.
F65 Paraphilias: Sexual disorders characterized by intense and persistent sexual interests other than sexual interest in genital stimulation or preparatory fondling with phenotypically normal, physically mature, consenting human partners.
F66 Other sexual disorders: Other specified sexual disorders.
F68 Other disorders of adult personality and behavior: This category includes other specified personality and behavior disorders.
F69 Unspecified disorder of adult personality and behavior: When a personality or behavior disorder is present but not specifically categorized.

F70 to F79: Intellectual Disabilities

Intellectual disabilities (previously known as mental retardation) are characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, originating before the age of 18.

F70 Mild intellectual disabilities: Individuals in this category have some learning difficulties but can often achieve independence in adulthood.
F71 Moderate intellectual disabilities: Individuals require more support and supervision but can learn basic self-care skills.
F72 Severe intellectual disabilities: Individuals require substantial support and supervision in all areas of life.
F73 Profound intellectual disabilities: Individuals require constant care and supervision.
F78 Other intellectual disabilities: Intellectual disability when the degree of impairment is known to be intellectual disability but cannot be assessed using standardized tests.
F79 Unspecified intellectual disabilities: When intellectual disability is diagnosed but the severity cannot be determined.

F80 to F89: Pervasive and Specific Developmental Disorders

Developmental disorders are characterized by impairments in specific areas of development, often evident early in life.

F80 Specific developmental disorders of speech and language: Disorders affecting speech and language development, such as expressive or receptive language disorders.
F81 Specific developmental disorders of scholastic skills: Disorders affecting academic skills, such as dyslexia (reading disorder) or dyscalculia (mathematics disorder).
F82 Specific developmental disorder of motor function: Disorders primarily affecting motor coordination, such as developmental coordination disorder.
F84 Pervasive developmental disorders: This includes autism spectrum disorders, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and Asperger’s syndrome, characterized by widespread impairments in social interaction, communication, and behavior.
F88 Other disorders of psychological development: Other specified disorders of psychological development.
F89 Unspecified disorder of psychological development: When a developmental disorder is present but does not fit into specific categories.

F90 to F98: Behavioral and Emotional Disorders with Onset Usually Occurring in Childhood and Adolescence

These disorders are characterized by behavioral and emotional difficulties that typically emerge in childhood or adolescence.

F90 Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders: ADHD, characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
F91 Conduct disorders: Disorders involving repetitive and persistent patterns of behavior that violate the rights of others or societal norms.
F93 Emotional disorders with onset specific to childhood: Childhood-onset emotional disorders like separation anxiety disorder and phobic anxiety disorder of childhood.
F94 Disorders of social functioning with onset specific to childhood and adolescence: Disorders affecting social interactions that begin in childhood or adolescence, such as reactive attachment disorder.
F95 Tic disorder: Disorders characterized by tics, such as Tourette’s syndrome.
F98 Other behavioral and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence: This includes conditions like enuresis and encopresis, covering other specified childhood-onset behavioral and emotional disorders.

F99 to F99: Unspecified Mental Disorder

F99 Mental disorder, not otherwise specified: This code is used when a mental disorder is diagnosed but does not meet the criteria for any specific disorder and cannot be further specified.

This overview of F diagnosis codes provides a foundational understanding of the broad spectrum of mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders classified under ICD-10. For more detailed information, healthcare professionals should consult the official ICD-10 documentation and related clinical resources.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals for diagnosis and treatment.