Understanding OCD ICD-10 Codes
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Finding the right OCD ICD-10 code—aka the code for obsessive-compulsive disorder—is important for mental health practitioners for billing and insurance.
Knowing the difference between the ICD-10 code for obsessive-compulsive disorder and the ICD-10 code for OCD unspecified could avoid potential insurance reimbursement delays and save you valuable time.
What is the ICD-10 and the DSM-5?
The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) is a guide published by the World Health Organization (WHO) that is used by clinicians around the world. Clinicians in the U.S. refer to the ICD-10-CM, a clinical modification of the ICD-10 used for diagnosis codes.
Using standard diagnostic language like ICD-10 codes can help measure and track health information and identify trends.
While clinicians in the U.S. use the ICD-10 in documentation and insurance reimbursement forms, they predominantly find the information in the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5).
The DSM-5 contains a comprehensive guide of OCD ICD-10 codes, including information on the ICD-10 code for OCD unspecified.
This guide provides an overview of the correct ICD-10 code for OCD, including a complete list of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms (with specifiers and differential diagnoses), and the ICD-10 coding information.
Bookmark this article as a reference to use next time you need to access information on the ICD-10 code for OCD.
OCD ICD-10 codes
OCD is listed in the ICD-10 under the section F40-F48 “Anxiety, dissociative, stress-related, somatoform and other nonpsychotic mental disorders” and the subheading ICD-10 code F42, “Obsessive-compulsive disorder.”
There are five presentations of obsessive-compulsive disorders listed under the F42 diagnosis code, which are listed below to help you find the right OCD ICD-10 code.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (F42)
- NOTE: This code should not be used for reimbursement purposes as there are multiple codes below it that contain a greater level of detail.
- Mixed obsessional thoughts and acts (F42.2)
- Hoarding disorder (F42.3)
- Excoriation (skin-picking) disorder (F42.4)
- Other obsessive-compulsive disorder (F42.8)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder, unspecified (F42.9)
OCD symptoms
The ICD-10 characterizes OCD as recurrent obsessive thoughts or compulsive acts. Other key features of OCD include:
- Obsessional thoughts may be ideas, images, or impulses that enter the person’s mind repeatedly.
- These repeated thoughts or acts are distressing, and individuals are unable to resist them.
- Obsessive compulsive thoughts are recognized as the person’s own, despite being involuntary and even repugnant.
- The compulsive acts are repeated.
- OCD thoughts and acts are not enjoyable or productive and occur even though the person knows they are ineffectual.
- Anxiety is invariably present.
- If thoughts and compulsions are resisted, the anxiety may worsen.
In the DSM-5, OCD falls under the section “Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders.”
The main diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5 can be summarized as:
- The presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both, defined by:
- Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are experienced as intrusive or unwanted, and cause anxiety and distress.
- Attempts to interrupt thoughts, urges, and images.
- Compulsions are defined as:
- Repetitive behaviors that the individual feels compelled to do, such as, handwashing, ordering, checking, counting, or repeating words.
- The behaviors/acts are attempts to quell anxiety and distress.
- Impairment: Obsessions/compulsions are time-consuming or cause distress and/or impairment in social, occupational, and other areas of functioning.
- Not substance or otherwise explained: The obsessive/compulsive behaviors are not attributable to the use of substances, a medical condition, or mental health disorder.
Clinicians must also specify if the client’s OCD presents:
- With good or fair insight
- With poor insight
- With absent insight/delusional beliefs
And specify if the diagnosis is:
- Tic-related
Please note this is a summary of the diagnostic criteria. More detail can be found in the DSM-5.
Differential diagnoses for OCD
Even though patients may meet some of the criteria for OCD, there may be a more appropriate diagnosis, such as:
- Anxiety disorder
- Major depressive disorder
- Other obsessive compulsive and related disorder
- Eating disorder
- Tics and stereotyped movements
- Psychotic disorder
- Other compulsive-like behavior
- Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
How to find the OCD ICD-10 codes
The full list of ICD-10 codes for OCD are available in the following digital and book formats:
- ICD-10 Data, a searchable ICD-10 database.
- The official ICD-10 from the WHO under the subheading F40-F48 “Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders” and the subheading ICD-10 code F42, “Obsessive-compulsive disorder.”
- 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 OCD ICD-10 codes, they may not align with the most recent ICD version and diagnostic criteria and other indicators may differ.
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