Adjustment disorder, unspecified

This code represents an emotional or behavioral reaction to an identifiable stressor that develops within three months of the stressor's onset. The symptoms cause significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning, or marked distress in excess of what would be expected from exposure to the stressor. This diagnosis is used when the specific type of adjustment disorder (e.g., with depressed mood, with anxiety) is not documented.

Use this code when a patient presents with symptoms of an adjustment disorder, but the clinician has not specified the predominant symptom presentation. Documentation should clearly indicate a recent identifiable psychosocial stressor and a maladaptive reaction to it, without meeting criteria for another specific mental disorder. This code is appropriate when the medical record lacks the specificity to assign a more precise adjustment disorder code.

• Avoid using this code if the documentation specifies the predominant symptoms, such as anxiety or depressed mood; instead, use the more specific F43.2x codes.
• Ensure the stressor is clearly identified and the onset of symptoms is within three months of the stressor.
• This code should not be used if the symptoms represent normal bereavement or another mental disorder.