The F06.4 Diagnosis Code, officially categorized as Anxiety disorder due to known physiological condition, is a crucial component of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM). This code is utilized by healthcare professionals in the United States to classify and document cases where anxiety symptoms are directly caused by a diagnosed medical condition. Understanding the specifics of F06.4 is essential for accurate medical coding, ensuring appropriate patient care, and facilitating healthcare reimbursement.
US flag icon representing the United States ICD-10-CM coding system for medical diagnoses, highlighting the F06.4 anxiety disorder code.
What F06.4 Signifies
F06.4 is a billable and specific code within the ICD-10-CM system. This means it is precise enough to be used for reimbursement purposes in healthcare claims. The code clearly distinguishes anxiety disorders that arise as a direct consequence of a physiological condition, separating them from primary anxiety disorders that are not attributable to a known medical cause. It is important to note that the F06.4 code is applicable when the anxiety is considered a direct physiological consequence of the medical condition, not merely a psychological reaction to having a medical illness.
The 2025 edition of ICD-10-CM F06.4 is currently in effect, having become active on October 1, 2024. This code has remained consistent through several revisions of the ICD-10-CM, indicating its established and ongoing relevance in medical classifications. While F06.4 is specific to the American ICD-10-CM version, it’s important to be aware that international versions of ICD-10 may have variations in coding and classifications.
Type 2 Excludes and F06.4
Within the ICD-10-CM guidelines, “Type 2 Excludes” notes are critical for accurate coding. For F06.4, a Type 2 Excludes note indicates conditions that are related but conceptually distinct. Specifically, it means that the excluded condition is not inherently part of “anxiety disorder due to known physiological condition,” but a patient could potentially have both conditions simultaneously. This distinction allows for coding of both F06.4 and the excluded condition if both are present and clinically relevant. Understanding these exclusions prevents under-coding and ensures a complete representation of a patient’s health status.
Annotations and Cross-References
The F06.4 code, like many in the ICD-10-CM system, may have annotation back-references. These references point to other codes that contain specific annotations relevant to F06.4. These annotations can include:
- Applicable To: Clarifications on when F06.4 is appropriately used.
- Code Also: Instructions to use an additional code to provide a more complete picture.
- Code First: Directives to code the underlying physiological condition first.
- Excludes1 & Excludes2: Rules about what conditions are mutually exclusive or can coexist.
- Includes: Examples of conditions covered under F06.4.
- Note: Additional guidance or definitions related to the code.
- Use Additional: Instructions to use a supplementary code for further detail.
These annotations ensure coders consider all relevant information and code accurately and comprehensively.
Synonyms for F06.4
To aid in understanding and searching for the F06.4 code, several approximate synonyms are recognized:
- Anxiety disorder due to a general medical condition
- Anxiety disorder due to another medical condition
- Anxiety disorder due to general medical condition
- Anxiety disorder due to medical disorder
These synonyms reflect the interchangeable use of terms like “general medical condition” and “medical disorder” in clinical practice when describing anxiety caused by physical health issues.
Clinical Context of F06.4
Clinically, F06.4 is applied when a patient’s anxiety symptoms are determined to be a direct physiological consequence of a general medical condition. This determination requires a clear clinical link between the medical condition and the onset or exacerbation of anxiety. Examples of medical conditions that could potentially lead to anxiety as a direct physiological consequence include:
- Endocrine Disorders: Conditions like hyperthyroidism or Cushing’s syndrome can cause anxiety symptoms due to hormonal imbalances.
- Cardiovascular Conditions: Certain heart conditions or arrhythmias might physiologically manifest as anxiety.
- Neurological Disorders: Conditions affecting the nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease, can sometimes induce anxiety symptoms through direct physiological effects.
- Metabolic Disturbances: Electrolyte imbalances or hypoglycemia can also trigger anxiety symptoms.
It is critical to differentiate F06.4 from psychological anxiety disorders where the anxiety is not a direct physiological result of a medical condition. Diagnosis requires careful evaluation to establish the causal link between the medical condition and the anxiety symptoms.
F06.4 Code History
The F06.4 code has a consistent history within the ICD-10-CM system:
- 2016: Introduced as a new code, marking the first year of the non-draft ICD-10-CM implementation (effective October 1, 2015).
- 2017-2025: No changes have been made to the F06.4 code through subsequent annual updates, reflecting its stability and continued relevance in the diagnostic coding framework.
This stable history underscores the established nature of F06.4 as a diagnostic category.
Related ICD-10-CM Codes
F06.4 is part of a broader category of mental disorders due to known physiological conditions within the ICD-10-CM. Codes adjacent to F06.4 provide context and differentiation:
- F06: Other mental disorders due to known physiological condition (the parent category).
- F06.0: Psychotic disorder with hallucinations due to known physiological condition.
- F06.1: Catatonic disorder due to known physiological condition.
- F06.2: Psychotic disorder with delusions due to known physiological condition.
- F06.3: Mood disorder due to known physiological condition.
- F06.7: Mild neurocognitive disorder due to known physiological condition.
- F06.8: Other specified mental disorders due to known physiological condition.
Understanding these related codes helps to correctly contextualize F06.4 within the broader spectrum of mental health conditions arising from physiological causes.
Conclusion
The F06.4 diagnosis code is a vital tool for classifying anxiety disorders that are directly linked to known physiological conditions. Its specificity is crucial for accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment planning, and correct medical billing. Healthcare providers and coding professionals must have a thorough understanding of F06.4, its clinical implications, and its place within the ICD-10-CM system to ensure optimal patient care and accurate healthcare documentation.
