ICD-9 Code V79.0

Screening for depression

  1. ICD-9 Index
  2. Chapter: E
  3. Section: V70-V82
  4. Block: V79 Special screening for mental disorders and developmental handicaps
  5. V79.0 - Screening for depression

Not Valid for Submission

V79.0 is a legacy non-billable code used to specify a medical diagnosis of screening for depression. This code was replaced on September 30, 2015 by its ICD-10 equivalent.

ICD-9: V79.0
Short Description:Screening for depression
Long Description:Screening for depression

Convert V79.0 to ICD-10

The following crosswalk between ICD-9 to ICD-10 is based based on the General Equivalence Mappings (GEMS) information:

  • Z13.89 - Encounter for screening for other disorder

Code Classification

  • Supplementary classification of factors influencing health status and contact with health services (E)
    • Persons without reported diagnosis encountered during examination and investigation of individuals and populations (V70-V82)
      • V79 Special screening for mental disorders and developmental handicaps

Information for Medical Professionals

Synonyms

  • Negative screening for depression on Patient Health Questionnaire 9
  • Positive screening for depression on Patient Health Questionnaire 9

Index to Diseases and Injuries

References found for the code V79.0 in the Index of Diseases and Injuries:

    • Screening for V82.9
      • depression V79.0

Information for Patients


Depression Screening

What is depression screening?

A depression screening, also called a depression test, helps find out if you have depression. Depression is a common, though serious, illness. Everyone feels sad at times, but depression is different than normal sadness or grief. Depression can affect how you think, feel, and behave. Depression makes it hard to function at home and work. You may lose interest in activities you once enjoyed. Some people with depression feel worthless and are at risk for harming themselves.

There are different types of depression. The most common types are:

  • Major depression, which causes persistent feelings of sadness, anger, and/or frustration. Major depression lasts for several weeks or longer.
  • Persistent depressive disorder, which causes depressive symptoms that last two years or more.
  • Postpartum depression. Many new mothers feel sad, but postpartum depression causes extreme sadness and anxiety after childbirth. It can make it hard for mothers to care for themselves and/or their babies.
  • Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This form of depression usually happens in winter when there is less sunlight. Most people with SAD feel better in the spring and summer.
  • Psychotic depression occurs with psychosis, a more serious psychiatric disorder. Psychosis can cause people to lose touch with reality.
  • Bipolar disorder formerly called manic depression. People with bipolar disorder have alternating episodes of mania (extreme highs or euphoria) and depression.

Fortunately, most people with depression feel better after treatment with medicine and/or talk therapy.

Other names: depression test

What is it used for?

A depression screening is used to help diagnose depression. Your primary care provider may give you a depression test if you are showing signs of depression. If the screening shows you have depression, you may need treatment from a mental health provider. A mental health provider is a health care professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health problems. If you are already seeing a mental health provider, you may get a depression test to help guide your treatment.

Why do I need depression screening?

You may need depression screening if you are showing signs of depression. Signs of depression include:

  • Loss of interest or pleasure in daily living and/or other activities, such as hobbies, sports, or sex
  • Anger, frustration, or irritability
  • Sleep problems: trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep (insomnia) or sleeping too much
  • Fatigue and lack of energy
  • Restlessness
  • Trouble concentrating or making decisions
  • Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
  • Losing or gaining a lot of weight

One of the most serious signs of depression is thinking about or attempting suicide. If you are thinking about hurting yourself, or about suicide, seek help right away. There are many ways to get help. You can:

  • Call 911 or go to your local emergency room
  • Call your mental health provider or other health care provider
  • Reach out to a loved one or close friend
  • Call a suicide hotline. In the United States, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

What happens during depression screening?

Your primary care provider may give you a physical exam and ask you about your feelings, mood, sleep habits, and other symptoms. Your provider may also order a blood test to find out if a disorder, such as anemia or thyroid disease, may be causing your depression.

During a blood test, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.

If you are being tested by a mental health provider, he or she may ask you more detailed questions about your feelings and behaviors. You may also be asked to fill out a questionnaire about these issues.

Will I need to do anything to prepare for depression screening?

You usually don't need any special preparations for a depression test.

Are there any risks to screening?

There is no risk to having a physical exam or taking a questionnaire.

There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.

What do the results mean?

If you are diagnosed with depression, it's important to get treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you get treatment, the better chance you have of recovery. Treatment for depression may take a long time, but most people who get treated eventually feel better.

If your primary care provider diagnosed you, he or she may refer you to a mental health provider. If a mental health provider diagnosed you, he or she will recommend a treatment plan based on the type of depression you have and how serious it is.

Is there anything else I need to know about depression screening?

There are many types of mental health providers who treat depression. The most common types of mental health providers include:

  • Psychiatrist, a medical doctor who specializes in mental health. Psychiatrists diagnose and treat mental health disorders. They can also prescribe medicine.
  • Psychologist, a professional trained in psychology. Psychologists generally have doctoral degrees, such as a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) or a Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology). But they do not have medical degrees. Psychologists diagnose and treat mental health disorders. They offer one-on-one counseling and/or group therapy sessions. They can't prescribe medicine, unless they have a special license. Some psychologists work with providers who are able to prescribe medicine.
  • Licensed clinical social worker (L.C.S.W.) has a master's degree in social work with training in mental health. Some have additional degrees and training. L.C.S.W.s diagnose and provide counseling for a variety of mental health problems. They can't prescribe medicine, but can work with providers who are able to.
  • Licensed professional counselor. (L.P.C.). Most L.P.C.s have a master's degree. But training requirements vary by state. L.P.C.s diagnose and provide counseling for a variety of mental health problems. They can't prescribe medicine, but can work with providers who are able to.
  • Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are specially trained nurses who have a master’s or doctoral degree in psychiatric nursing. They assess, diagnose, and treat a variety of mental health disorders. Some ARPNs can prescribe medicines.

L.C.S.W.s and L.P.C.s may be known by other names, including therapist, clinician, or counselor.

If you don't know which type of mental health provider you should see, talk to your primary care provider.

References

  1. American Psychiatric Nurses Association [Internet]. Falls Church (VA): American Psychiatric Nurses Association; Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses; [cited 2021 Aug 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.apna.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3292 
  2. American Psychiatric Association [Internet]. Washington D.C.: American Psychiatric Association; c2018. What Is Depression?; [cited 2018 Oct 1]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
  3. Johns Hopkins Medicine [Internet]. Johns Hopkins Medicine; Health Library: Depression; [cited 2018 Oct 1]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/adult/womens_health/depression_85,p01512
  4. Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1998–2018. Depression (major depressive disorder): Diagnosis and treatment; 2018 Feb 3 [cited 2018 Oct 1]; [about 5 screens]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20356013
  5. Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1998–2018. Depression (major depressive disorder): Symptoms and causes; 2018 Feb 3 [cited 2018 Oct 1]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007
  6. Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1998–2018. Mental health providers: Tips on finding one; 2017 May 16 [cited 2018 Oct 1]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/in-depth/mental-health-providers/art-20045530
  7. Merck Manual Consumer Version [Internet]. Kenilworth (NJ): Merck & Co. Inc.; c2018. Depression; [cited 2018 Oct 1]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/mental-health-disorders/mood-disorders/depression
  8. National Alliance on Mental Illness [Internet]. Arlington (VA): NAMI; c2018. Types of Mental Health Professionals; [cited 2018 Oct 1]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Treatment/Types-of-Mental-Health-Professionals
  9. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Blood Tests; [cited 2018 Oct 1]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/blood-tests
  10. National Institute of Mental Health [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Depression; [updated 2018 Feb; cited 2018 Oct 1]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
  11. UF Health: University of Florida Health [Internet]. Gainesville (FL): University of Florida; c2018. Depression: Overview; [updated 2018 Oct 1; cited 2018 Oct 1]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://ufhealth.org/depression-overview
  12. UW Health [Internet]. Madison (WI): University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; c2018. Depression Screening: Topic Overview; [updated 2017 Dec 7; cited 2018 Oct 1]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.uwhealth.org/health/topic/special/depression-screening/aba5372.html
  13. UW Health [Internet]. Madison (WI): University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; c2018. Do I Have Depression?: Topic Overview [updated 2017 Dec 7; cited 2018 Oct 1]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.uwhealth.org/health/topic/special/do-i-have-depression/ty6747.html#ty6747-sec

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ICD-9 Footnotes

General Equivalence Map Definitions
The ICD-9 and ICD-10 GEMs are used to facilitate linking between the diagnosis codes in ICD-9-CM and the new ICD-10-CM code set. The GEMs are the raw material from which providers, health information vendors and payers can derive specific applied mappings to meet their needs.

  • Approximate Flag - The approximate flag is on, indicating that the relationship between the code in the source system and the code in the target system is an approximate equivalent.
  • No Map Flag - The no map flag indicates that a code in the source system is not linked to any code in the target system.
  • Combination Flag - The combination flag indicates that more than one code in the target system is required to satisfy the full equivalent meaning of a code in the source system.

Index of Diseases and Injuries Definitions

  • And - The word "and" should be interpreted to mean either "and" or "or" when it appears in a title.
  • Code also note - A "code also" note instructs that two codes may be required to fully describe a condition, but this note does not provide sequencing direction.
  • Code first - Certain conditions have both an underlying etiology and multiple body system manifestations due to the underlying etiology. For such conditions, the ICD-10-CM has a coding convention that requires the underlying condition be sequenced first followed by the manifestation. Wherever such a combination exists, there is a "use additional code" note at the etiology code, and a "code first" note at the manifestation code. These instructional notes indicate the proper sequencing order of the codes, etiology followed by manifestation.
  • Type 1 Excludes Notes - A type 1 Excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
  • Type 2 Excludes Notes - A type 2 Excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
  • Includes Notes - This note appears immediately under a three character code title to further define, or give examples of, the content of the category.
  • Inclusion terms - List of terms is included under some codes. These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
  • NEC "Not elsewhere classifiable" - This abbreviation in the Alphabetic Index represents "other specified". When a specific code is not available for a condition, the Alphabetic Index directs the coder to the "other specified” code in the Tabular List.
  • NOS "Not otherwise specified" - This abbreviation is the equivalent of unspecified.
  • See - The "see" instruction following a main term in the Alphabetic Index indicates that another term should be referenced. It is necessary to go to the main term referenced with the "see" note to locate the correct code.
  • See Also - A "see also" instruction following a main term in the Alphabetic Index instructs that there is another main term that may also be referenced that may provide additional Alphabetic Index entries that may be useful. It is not necessary to follow the "see also" note when the original main term provides the necessary code.
  • 7th Characters - Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
  • With - The word "with" should be interpreted to mean "associated with" or "due to" when it appears in a code title, the Alphabetic Index, or an instructional note in the Tabular List. The word "with" in the Alphabetic Index is sequenced immediately following the main term, not in alphabetical order.

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