ADHD ICD-10 Codes
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Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has various presentations depending on the type, which determines the correct ADHD ICD-10 code to use in diagnosis, treatment, and insurance billing.
Therefore, finding the right ADHD ICD-10 code is an essential part of being a mental health clinician.
Therapists need to know how, for example, ADHD inattentive type presents and differs from ADHD combined type and ADHD unspecified. This can avoid unnecessary delays in insurance reimbursement, and save you valuable time in diagnosis and accurate treatment planning.
What are ICD-10 codes?
The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) is a guide published by the World Health Organization (WHO) that is used by clinicians and scientists globally. The guide uses standard diagnostic language, which allows for uniform collection and measurement of health information.
ICD-10 codes are used to record diagnoses, complete assessments, and bill insurance payers.
This guide provides an overview of the correct ADHD ICD-10 codes, including ADHD inattentive type, ADHD unspecified, and ICD-10 ADHD combined type codes. Bookmark this article as a reference to use next time you need to access information on ADHD ICD-10 codes.
Additionally, you can view our guide to ADHD F codes.
Codes for ADHD in ICD-10
You’ll find the diagnosis codes for ADHD in ICD-10 under the section “F90-98 Behavioral and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence” and subsection “Hyperkinetic disorders.”
Disorders in this section usually occur in early childhood, but can be diagnosed at any age.
There are five specifiers listed under ICD-10 code F90 (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders):
- F90.0 Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, predominantly inattentive type
- F90.1 Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, predominantly hyperactive type
- F90.2 Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, combined type
- F90.8 Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, other type
- F90.9 Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, unspecified type
Here is more information on the three types of ADHD and their signs.
F90.2, for example, is used for ADHD combined type, whereas F90.9 is the ADHD unspecified ICD code. F90.2 is listed at #11 in SimplePractice’s list of the 20 most-frequently billed ICD-10 codes.
Finding the right DSM code for ADHD
When diagnosing ADHD, therapists must specify the presentation, such as the ICD-10 for ADHD combined type, the ADHD unspecified ICD-10 code, or the code for ADHD hyperactive-impulsive.
Before reaching a diagnosis of ADHD, the APA requires a clinician to observe:
- A childhood history of ADHD before age 12.
- Several inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms are present in two or more settings, e.g. work, school, or home.
- There is clear evidence these symptoms impair social, academic, or occupational functioning.
- Symptoms do not occur exclusively during the course of a psychotic disorder and are not otherwise explained by another diagnosis.
The DSM-5 specifiers for each presentation, and their corresponding codes for ADHD in ICD-10 include:
ADHD, combined presentation (ICD-10 F90.2)
Combined presentation ADHD is when symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity have been present for the past six months. For ADHD, combined presentation, use code F90.2.
ADHD, predominantly inattentive presentation (ICD-10 F90.0)
The inattentive presentation of ADHD is most often diagnosed in adult women and girls. Symptoms of inattention are met, but criterion A2 (hyperactivity-impulsivity) have not been met in the last six months. For ADHD inattentive presentation, use code F90.1.
ADHD, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation (ICD-10 F90.1)
In the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation of ADHD, symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity are present, but there are no inattentive symptoms in the last six months. For hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, use code F90.1.
ADHD differential diagnoses
Even though patients may meet some of the criterion for ADHD, there may be a more appropriate diagnosis, such as:
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Reactive attachment disorder
- Anxiety disorders
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Substance use disorders
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorders
- Depressive disorders
- Medication-induced symptoms of ADHD
- Oppositional defiant disorder
- Intermittent explosive disorder
- Other neurodevelopmental disorders
- Specific learning disorder
- Intellectual developmental disorder
- Psychotic disorders
- Neurocognitive disorders
How to find ADHD ICD-10 codes
The full list of ADHD codes are available in the following digital and book formats:
- ICD-10 Data, a searchable ICD-10 database.
- The official ICD-10 under “F90-98 Behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence,” and subheading “Hyperkinetic disorders.”
- DSM-5 throughout the textbook and online. The hard copy contains a handy alphabetical list and numerical list of ICD-10 codes.
It is worth noting that while the DSM-5 does contain accurate ICD-10 codes, they may not align with the most recent version, the ICD-11, and diagnostic criteria and other indicators may also differ.
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