2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F43Reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders

ICD-10-CM Codes›F01–F99›F40-F48›F43

ICD-10-CM F43
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

F43 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as F43.0, F43.10, F43.11, and F43.12.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
F43
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders
Short Description
Reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
F40-F48
Anxiety, dissociative, stress-related, somatoform and other nonpsychotic mental disorders

Code Classification

ChapterF01–F99Mental and behavioural disorders
SectionF40-F48Anxiety, dissociative, stress-related, somatoform and other nonpsychotic mental disorders
CategoryF43Reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders
This CodeF43Reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders

Specific Coding for Reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disordersOverview

Non-specific codes like F43 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use F43.0 for Acute stress reaction

  • F43.1 for Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

  • Use F43.10 for Post-traumatic stress disorder, unspecified

  • Use F43.11 for Post-traumatic stress disorder, acute

  • Use F43.12 for Post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic

  • F43.2 for Adjustment disorders

  • Use F43.20 for Adjustment disorder, unspecified

  • Use F43.21 for Adjustment disorder with depressed mood

  • Use F43.22 for Adjustment disorder with anxiety

  • Use F43.23 for Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood

  • Use F43.24 for Adjustment disorder with disturbance of conduct

  • Use F43.25 for Adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct

  • Use F43.29 for Adjustment disorder with other symptoms

  • F43.8 for Other reactions to severe stress

  • Use F43.81 for Prolonged grief disorder

  • Use F43.89 for Other reactions to severe stress

  • Use F43.9 for Reaction to severe stress, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to F43: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 5. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

From Chapter 5 (F01-F99) Mental and behavioural disorders applies to 872 codes
  • disorders of psychological development

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Chapter 5 (F01-F99) Mental and behavioural disorders applies to 872 codes
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name F43, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming F43: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • F93.0 Separation anxiety disorder of childhood
    nonpsychotic mental disorders (F40-F48) names F40-F48, which includes this code

Patient EducationClinical

Stress

Stress is how your brain and body respond to a challenge or demand. When you are stressed, your body releases certain hormones. Hormones are chemicals that travel in your bloodstream and control how different parts of your body work. The hormones that are released when you are stressed make you alert and ready to act.

The full article covers:

  • What is stress?
  • What causes long-term stress?
  • How can long term-stress harm my health?
  • How can I manage long-term stress?
  • When should I ask my health care provider for help with stress?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About F43Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders?

F43 is the ICD-10-CM category for reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is F43 (Reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders need a more specific code from this category, such as F43.0, F43.10, and F43.11.