Which ICD-10-CM code corresponds to a mild depressed episode?

Which ICD-10-CM code corresponds to a mild depressed episode?

• A. F31.11
• B. F31.4
• C. F31.31
• D. F31.32

Answer: (C)

Understanding how ICD-10-CM codes convey mood-state severity for bipolar disorder. The category for bipolar affective disorder is F31. When the clinician documents a current depressive episode, the code base uses F31.3 to indicate “current episode depressed.” The digits that follow specify the severity of that depressive episode. F31.31 corresponds to a mild depressive episode, which is why it matches the description of a mild depression. The other codes in the list map to different current mood states or different levels of severity, so they don’t describe a mild depressive state. In practice, the exact code chosen relies on the documented level of severity in the patient’s current depressive episode.

Understanding how ICD-10-CM codes convey mood-state severity for bipolar disorder. The category for bipolar affective disorder is F31. When the clinician documents a current depressive episode, the code base uses F31.3 to indicate “current episode depressed.” The digits that follow specify the severity of that depressive episode. F31.31 corresponds to a mild depressive episode, which is why it matches the description of a mild depression. The other codes in the list map to different current mood states or different levels of severity, so they don’t describe a mild depressive state. In practice, the exact code chosen relies on the documented level of severity in the patient’s current depressive episode.