F20-F29
Medium Complexity

Schizophrenia, schizotypal, delusional, and other non-mood psychotic disorders

Primary Specialty: Psychiatry
Last Updated: 2025-09-09

ICD-10 Codes (11)

11 billable
0 category headers
F21
Billable
Schizotypal disorder
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F22
Billable
Delusional disorders
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F23
Billable
Brief psychotic disorder
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F24
Billable
Shared psychotic disorder
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F25
Billable
Schizoaffective disorders
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F25.0
Billable
Schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type
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F25.1
Billable
Schizoaffective disorder, depressive type
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F25.8
Billable
Other schizoaffective disorders
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F25.9
Billable
Schizoaffective disorder, unspecified
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F28
Billable
Other psychotic disorder not due to a substance or known physiological condition
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F29
Billable
Unspecified psychosis not due to a substance or known physiological condition
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Updates & Changes

FY 2026 Updates

Current Year

Revised Codes (2)

F20.9
Schizophrenia, unspecified - updated diagnostic criteria alignment with DSM-5-TR
F25.9
Schizoaffective disorder, unspecified - enhanced clinical specifications

Deleted Codes

No codes deleted in this range for FY 2026

Historical Changes

  • FY 2025: Updated psychotic disorder classifications
  • FY 2024: Enhanced early intervention coding for psychotic disorders
  • FY 2023: Revised schizoaffective disorder criteria

Upcoming Changes

  • Proposed codes for treatment-resistant schizophrenia
  • Under consideration: Biomarker-based psychotic disorder coding

Implementation Guidance

  • Review all FY 2026 updates for F20-F29 codes before implementation
  • Always verify the most current codes in the ICD-10-CM manual
  • Ensure clinical documentation supports the selected diagnosis codes
  • +3 more guidance items...

Range Overview

high priority

The F20-F29 range in ICD-10 is dedicated to schizophrenia, schizotypal, delusional, and other non-mood psychotic disorders. These codes are used to identify and classify various types of psychotic disorders that are not primarily related to mood, but to altered reality perception. This range includes specific codes for different types of schizophrenia, persistent delusional disorders, acute and transient psychotic disorders, schizoaffective disorders, and other nonorganic psychotic disorders.

Key Usage Points:

  • F20 codes are used for different subtypes of schizophrenia, including paranoid, hebephrenic, and catatonic.
  • F22 codes are used for persistent delusional disorders.
  • F23 codes are for acute and transient psychotic disorders.
  • F25 is used for schizoaffective disorders.
  • F28 and F29 codes are used for other and unspecified nonorganic psychotic disorders.

Coding Guidelines

When to Use:

  • When a patient is diagnosed with a specific subtype of schizophrenia.
  • When a patient presents with persistent delusions.
  • When a patient experiences an acute and transient psychotic episode.
  • When a patient is diagnosed with a schizoaffective disorder.
  • When a patient presents with a nonorganic psychotic disorder not specified elsewhere.

When NOT to Use:

  • When the psychotic symptoms are secondary to a mood disorder.
  • When the psychosis is due to substance abuse or withdrawal.
  • When the psychosis is a result of a known physical condition.
  • When the psychosis is part of a pervasive developmental disorder.

Code Exclusions

Always verify exclusions with the latest ICD-10-CM official guidelines.

Documentation Requirements

Documentation for F20-F29 codes should clearly indicate the specific type of psychotic disorder. It should include details about the nature and duration of symptoms, the impact on the patient's functioning, and any associated conditions.

Clinical Information:

  • Specific type of psychotic disorder
  • Duration and frequency of symptoms
  • Severity of symptoms
  • Impact on patient's functioning
  • Associated conditions or substance use

Supporting Evidence:

  • Clinical examination findings
  • Psychiatric evaluation
  • History from patient and informants
  • Results of any relevant tests or imaging
Good Documentation Example:

Patient diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He experiences frequent auditory hallucinations and has severe social impairment. No substance use reported.

Poor Documentation Example:

Patient has schizophrenia.

Common Documentation Errors:

  • Not specifying the type of psychotic disorder
  • Not documenting the duration and frequency of symptoms
  • Not indicating the impact on the patient's functioning
  • Not documenting any associated conditions or substance use

Range Statistics

10
Total Codes
11
Billable
Complexity:
Medium
Primary Use:Clinical Documentation
Chapter:5

Coding Complexity

Medium
Complexity Rating

Coding for F20-F29 requires a good understanding of different types of psychotic disorders and their clinical features. It also requires careful review of the documentation to identify all relevant details.

Key Factors:
  • Determining the specific type of psychotic disorder
  • Distinguishing between acute and persistent disorders
  • Identifying any associated conditions or substance use
  • Understanding the impact of the disorder on the patient's functioning

Specialty Focus

The F20-F29 codes are primarily used by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals. They may also be used by primary care providers when managing patients with psychotic disorders.

Primary Specialties:
Psychiatry
70%
Primary Care
30%
Clinical Scenarios:
  • A patient presenting with auditory hallucinations and delusions of persecution.
  • A patient with a long-standing belief that they are being followed, without any evidence.
  • A patient experiencing an acute psychotic episode following a stressful event.
  • A patient with a history of mood swings and periods of delusions and hallucinations.

Resources & References

Resources for F20-F29 codes include the ICD-10-CM official guidelines, clinical reference books, and educational materials on psychotic disorders.

Official Guidelines:

  • ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting
  • American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

Clinical References:

  • Kaplan & Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry
  • The Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines in Psychiatry

Educational Materials:

  • American Psychiatric Association: Educational Resources
  • World Health Organization: Mental Health Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How to code for a patient with schizoaffective disorder?

Schizoaffective disorder is coded as F25, with additional codes for the depressive or bipolar type.