ICD-10 Code for Autistic Disorder
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Finding the right ICD-10 code for autistic disorder—now known as autism spectrum disorder—is an essential part of being a mental health clinician.
Given the broad changes in autism diagnosis criteria in recent years, it can be challenging to keep on top of the most up-to-date codes.
The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) is a guide published by the World Health Organization (WHO) that clinicians around the world use to identify health and disease trends using standard diagnostic language.
U.S.-based behavioral health practitioners use the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), which also contains ICD-10 codes.
This article provides an overview of the ICD-10 codes for autism spectrum disorder, formerly known as autistic disorder, to support clinicians in identifying the right code for their patients and practice.
Using the appropriate ICD-10 codes is critical for practitioners as part of the assessment process, as well as in defining treatment goals and ensuring the correct insurance billing information.
Bookmark this article as a reference to use next time you need to access the most common ICD-10 codes for autism.
What is the ICD-10 code for autistic disorder or autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?
Autistic disorder is now classified as autism spectrum disorder under the “Neurodevelopmental Disorders” section in the latest editions of the ICD-11 and DSM-5.
However, the ICD-10 still uses autistic psychopathy, including Asperger syndrome, which fall under the “Pervasive Developmental Disorders” category.
ICD-10 codes are used to record diagnoses, accompany assessments, and bill insurance payers. There are three ICD-10 codes for autism listed by the WHO in the ICD-10, but only one in DSM-5.
The ICD-10 code for childhood autism (F84.0 diagnosis code) is the 16th most frequently billed ICD-10 code in SimplePractice’s list of the 20 most-frequently billed ICD-10 codes.
Other ICD-10 codes frequently used to diagnose autism include:
- Childhood autism (ICD-10 F84.0 diagnosis code)
- Note: this is the same diagnosis code used for adult autism and autism spectrum disorder.
- Atypical autism (International ICD-10 F84.1 diagnosis code): a pervasive developmental disorder that has an unusual symptomatic onset, or doesn’t fulfill the typical diagnostic criteria for other autism diagnoses.
- Note: In the US, F84.1 isn’t recognized, but Atypical autism is included in the diagnosis code for Pervasive developmental disorder, unspecified (American ICD-10 F84.9 diagnosis code).
- Asperger syndrome (ICD-10 F84.5 diagnosis code)
Using the F84.0 diagnosis code
When using DSM-5 criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ICD-10 code F84.0), practitioners may specify the following:
- Severity:
- Requiring very substantial support
- Requiring substantial support
- Requiring support
- With or without accompanying:
- Intellectual impairment
- Language impairment
- Association with:
- A known genetic, medical, or environmental factor(s)
- Neurodevelopmental, mental, or behavioral problem(s)
- With catatonia (add the additional code F06.1 when catatonia is present)
What is the ICD-10 Code for asperger syndrome?
Asperger syndrome is listed in the ICD-10 under code F84.5. However, it is not included in the DSM-5, as it is was replaced by autism spectrum disorder
Asperger syndrome was defined as a type of autism with similar symptoms, including abnormalities in reciprocal social interaction and restrictive stereotyped special interests and activities.
The difference between Asperger syndrome and autistic disorder code in the ICD-10 is that it is not accompanied with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
The main clinical reason Asperger syndrome was removed from the DSM-5 is that it was reclassified under a spectrum of autism disorders.
However, that is not the only reason the term is surrounded in controversy. Socially, clinicians and advocacy groups believe Asperger syndrome should be demedicalized as it has the potential to stigmatize.
It also has a troubling history. Dr. Hans Asperger is credited with identifying autism in the 1940s. While he was not a member of the Nazi Party, he did remove children with disabilities from their families and placed them in a children’s ward in Vienna—called Spiegelgrund—where they were subjected to experimentation and, in some cases, euthanized.
Differential diagnosis for autism
Even though patients may meet some of the criterion for autism spectrum disorder, there may be a more appropriate diagnosis, such as:
- ADHD
- Intellectual developmental disorder
- Personality disorders
- Language and social (pragmatic) communication disorder
- Selective mutism
- Stereotypic movement disorder
- Rett syndrome
- Anxiety disorders
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Schizophrenia
How to find the ICD-10 codes for autism
The full list of codes for autism are available in the following digital and book formats:
- ICD-10 Data, a searchable ICD-10 database
- The official ICD-10 under the sections“Mental and Behavioral Disorders” and “Pervasive Developmental 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 ICD version—as we noted above in relation to autistic disorder versus autism spectrum disorder—and diagnostic criteria and other indicators may differ.
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