Billing and coding
ICD-10 codes for adjustment disorders
In the ICD-10, adjustment disorders fall under the F43 category, or “reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders.”
June 6, 2025
7 min read
Proper documentation is essential for accurate billing and timely payment. Along with identifying your client’s diagnosis, you’ll need to find the right ICD-10 code to include in your session notes and insurance claim.
One common diagnosis therapists treat and bill is adjustment disorder. Below, learn more about ICD-10 codes for adjustment disorders to streamline your documentation and billing process as a therapist.
It’s important you make a clear, accurate and specific diagnosis that is appropriate to your individual patient clinical picture. These examples should be for reference and are not intended to guide a diagnosis. The client must meet diagnostic criteria for the F code they are assigned.
The ICD-10 classification system for adjustment disorders
Adjustment disorders fall under ICD-10 F43, or “reaction to severe stress and adjustment disorders.” Specifically, adjustment disorders use the ICD-10 F code F43.20.
This section includes mental and behavioral disorders that arise in response to identifiable stressors, typically involving significant changes or life events such as divorce, job loss, illness, or other trauma. These conditions are characterized by emotional or behavioral symptoms that emerge within three months of the stressor; cause marked distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning; and are not better explained by any other diagnosis.
Beneath F43.20 are several subtypes of adjustment disorder. It’s important to use the most accurate code possible when you’re diagnosing your client and filing insurance claims.
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Specific ICD-10 codes for adjustment disorder
Below, find the specific ICD-10 codes for adjustment disorder:
- F43.20, Adjustment disorder, unspecified: If the predominant symptoms are not sufficiently severe for any of the below categories, or when symptoms need further assessment.
- F43.2, Adjustment disorder with depressed mood: Predominant symptoms include persistently low mood, tearfulness, or feelings of hopelessness.
- F43.22, Adjustment disorder with anxiety: Predominant symptoms involve nervousness, excessive worry, jitteriness, or separation anxiety.
- F43.23, Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood: A combination of depression and anxiety predominates.
- F43.24, Adjustment disorder with disturbance of conduct: Predominant symptoms are characterized by a disturbance of conduct.
- F43.25, Adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct: Both emotional symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety) and disturbance of conduct are predominant.
- F43.29, Adjustment disorder with other symptoms: If the predominant symptoms do not fit with common subtypes but they are clearly related to the stressor.
Comparing ICD-10 and DSM-5 adjustment disorder classifications
Adjustment disorders are recognized in both the ICD-10 and the DSM-5, but there are some key differences in how they’re classified and coded.
In the ICD-10, adjustment disorders fall under the F43 category, or “Reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders.” The ICD-10 also provides several more specific codes to accurately reflect presenting symptoms. This system allows for more detailed coding and is used for insurance and billing purposes.
The DSM-5, on the other hand, classifies adjustment disorders in the “Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders” section. While the DSM-5 also highlights similar subtypes, it focuses more on diagnostic criteria, such as timing and degree of functional impairment. Because DSM-5 is a diagnostic tool and not a billing tool, there are no numeric codes in the manual.
Diagnostic documentation requirements for adjustment disorder
Adjustment disorder involves maladaptive responses to stressors, such as changes in mood or behavior. Diagnostic criteria for F43.2 Adjustment Disorder include:
- Symptoms are in response to an identifiable stressor
- Symptoms develop within one month of that stressor
- Criteria for another disorder are not fulfilled
- Once the stressor has terminated, the symptoms do not persist for more than additional six months
If you diagnose a client with an adjustment disorder, you should create your treatment plan accordingly and use the correct CPT codes when you file insurance claims.
How can you support clients with adjustment disorders?
Your treatment plan for adjustment disorders will ultimately depend on your client’s presenting symptoms and their treatment goals. Focus your intervention on the primary presenting symptoms, depending on the adjustment disorder subtype.
Your treatment plan should always include a goal, objective, and intervention. Incorporate evaluation criteria, too, so you can easily assess whether your client is improving over time and tweak your plan as needed.
Treatment is never one-size-fits-all, but typically, therapists include at least one goal and objective from each diagnostic criteria your client experiences. Base your interventions on psychological evidence and your clinical training. Examples of interventions for adjustment disorder include stress management, addressing negative thoughts, emotion regulation, and communication skills.
How Headway simplifies adjustment disorder coding and billing
Headway's platform is built to support therapists with seamless claim submissions, automatic coding suggestions, and built-in compliance tools, even when working across different diagnoses and treatment plans. Whether you’re navigating comorbidities or changing client needs, Headway has your back.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical, legal, financial, or professional advice. All decisions should be made at the discretion of the individual or organization, in consultation with qualified clinical, legal, or other appropriate professionals.
© 2025 Therapymatch, Inc. dba Headway. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.
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