Find information on Major Depressive Disorder with Anxious Distress including diagnostic criteria, ICD-10-CM code F33.1, DSM-5 criteria 296.2X and 296.3X, clinical documentation requirements, anxiety symptoms in depression, and treatment resources for healthcare professionals. Learn about assessing and coding anxious distress specifier, severity measures, and differential diagnosis considerations for accurate medical billing and quality patient care. Explore resources for mental health providers covering the management and coding of MDD with anxious distress.
Also known as
Major depressive disorder
Characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest, and other symptoms.
Neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders
Includes anxiety, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and related conditions.
Anxiety disorders
Covers various anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety and panic disorder.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the diagnosis Major Depressive Disorder?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Major Depression with Anxiety |
| Generalized Anxiety Disorder |
| Persistent Depressive Disorder |
Coding anxious distress with unspecified anxiety codes instead of the specific MDD with anxious distress code (F33.1) leads to inaccurate severity reflection.
Failing to document and code anxious distress features when present in MDD can result in undercoding and missed CC/MCC capture.
Discrepancies between physician documentation and coded anxious distress can trigger audits and denials. Clear documentation linking anxiety to MDD is crucial.
Patient presents with symptoms consistent with Major Depressive Disorder with Anxious Distress. The patient reports persistent sadness, depressed mood, and anhedonia for the past six weeks. Symptoms include significant weight loss, insomnia, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of death, though no specific suicidal plan is reported. The patient exhibits psychomotor agitation and reports significant anxiety, restlessness, and difficulty relaxing. These anxious distress symptoms are prominent and impairing, contributing significantly to the overall clinical picture. The patient denies any history of mania or hypomania. Symptoms meet DSM-5 criteria for Major Depressive Disorder with Anxious Distress. Differential diagnoses considered include generalized anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and medical conditions that can mimic depression. Initial treatment plan includes psychotherapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques focused on mood management and anxiety reduction. Pharmacotherapy with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is also recommended to address both the depressive and anxiety components. Patient education provided on medication side effects, potential drug interactions, and the importance of adherence. Referral to psychiatry for medication management and further evaluation is made. Follow-up scheduled in two weeks to assess treatment response and adjust the treatment plan as needed. Prognosis is guardedly optimistic with appropriate treatment and ongoing monitoring of symptoms. ICD-10 code F32.2, Major Depressive Disorder, single episode, moderate, with anxious distress, is assigned. CPT codes for evaluation and management, psychotherapy, and pharmacotherapy management will be documented based on the time spent and complexity of the services provided. Patient's progress and response to treatment will be closely monitored with ongoing assessments of depressive and anxiety symptoms, functional impairment, and suicidal ideation.