Find information on Stress Reaction diagnosis, including clinical documentation tips, ICD-10 codes (F43.0, F43.2, F43.8, F43.9), DSM-5 criteria, and medical coding guidelines. Learn about symptoms, treatment, and best practices for healthcare professionals documenting and coding Stress Reaction in medical records. This resource provides comprehensive guidance for accurate and efficient clinical documentation and medical billing related to Stress Reaction and adjustment disorders.
Also known as
Reaction to severe stress
Covers acute stress reaction and adjustment disorders.
Neurotic, stress-related disorders
Includes various disorders related to stress and anxiety.
Symptoms and signs involving appearance
May include physical manifestations of stress like sweating or trembling.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the stress reaction acute?
Yes
Predominantly dissociative symptoms?
No
Symptoms persist > 3 months?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Emotional response to a stressful event |
| Prolonged, severe reaction to trauma |
| Anxiety disorder with persistent worry |
Using unspecified stress reaction codes (e.g., F43.9) when a more specific diagnosis is documented, leading to inaccurate severity and resource allocation.
Miscoding adjustment disorders (F43.2x) as stress reactions or vice versa, impacting case mix index and reimbursement due to different DRG assignments.
Insufficient documentation of stressor details or symptom duration required for accurate coding and potential underreporting of stress-related conditions.
Patient presents with symptoms consistent with a stress reaction, also known as an adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct. The patient reports experiencing emotional and behavioral symptoms following a clearly identifiable stressor, specifically [insert specific stressor e.g., job loss, relationship difficulties, financial strain]. Onset of symptoms occurred approximately [insert timeframe e.g., two weeks, one month] after the identified stressor. Symptoms reported include [insert specific symptoms e.g., anxiety, irritability, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbance, tearfulness, social withdrawal, reckless behavior, verbal outbursts]. These symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The symptom presentation does not meet the criteria for another mental disorder and is not an exacerbation of a pre-existing mental health condition. Differential diagnoses considered include anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These were ruled out based on the patient's history, symptom presentation, and duration of symptoms. The patient's symptoms are not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition. Diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Disturbance of Emotions and Conduct (DSM-5 309.4) is made. Treatment plan includes short-term individual therapy focused on coping skills development and stress management techniques. Referral to support groups and community resources will be provided. Patient education on stress reactions and prognosis was discussed. Follow-up appointment scheduled in [timeframe e.g., two weeks, one month] to monitor symptom improvement and adjust treatment plan as needed. ICD-10 code F43.24 will be used for billing and coding purposes.