2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F53.0Postpartum depression

ICD-10-CM Codes›F01–F99›F50-F59›F53

ICD-10-CM F53.0
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

F53.0 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for postpartum depression. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is restricted by the Medicare Code Editor to maternity cases (age 9 through 64). In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Complications specified during the puerperium and Depressive disorders.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
F53.0
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Postpartum depression
Short Description
Postpartum depression
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
F53
Mental and behavioral disorders associated with the puerperium, not elsewhere classified

Code Classification

ChapterF01–F99Mental and behavioural disorders
SectionF50-F59Behavioral syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors
CategoryF53Mental and behavioral disorders associated with the puerperium, not elsewhere classified
This CodeF53.0Postpartum depression

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for F53.0.

Maternity diagnoses
The Medicare Code Editor detects inconsistencies in maternity cases by checking a patient's age and any diagnosis on the patient's record. The maternity code edits apply to patients age ange is 9–64 years inclusive (e.g., diabetes in pregnancy, antepartum pulmonary complication).

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Decline in Edinburgh postnatal depression scale score
  • Decline in Edinburgh postnatal depression scale score at 8 months
  • Depressed mood
  • Depressed mood with postpartum onset
  • Major depression in remission
  • Major depressive disorder, single episode with postpartum onset
  • Mild depression
  • Mild postnatal depression
  • Postpartum depression
  • Postpartum major depression in remission
  • Severe postnatal depression

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Inclusion Terms

  • Postnatal depression, NOS
  • Postpartum depression, NOS

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Depression(acute) (mental)
      • postnatal (NOS)
    • Depression(acute) (mental)
      • postpartum (NOS)
    • Disorder(of)
      • mental (or behavioral) (nonpsychotic)
        • puerperal

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR PRG027
Complications specified during the puerperium
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes
CCSR MBD002
Depressive disorders
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No

Patient EducationClinical

Postpartum Depression

Many women have the baby blues after childbirth. If you have the baby blues, you may have mood swings, feel sad, anxious or overwhelmed, have crying spells, lose your appetite, or have trouble sleeping. The baby blues most often go away within a few days or a week. The symptoms are not severe and do not need treatment.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Code History & ChangesHistory

Replacement F53.0 replaces the following previously assigned code(s):

  • F53 - Mental and behavrl disorders assoc with the puerperium, NEC
  • F53 - Puerperal psychosis
FY 2019AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2018.
FY 2020–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About F53.0Overview

Is F53.0 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report postpartum depression on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Who can F53.0 be reported for?

The Medicare Code Editor checks postpartum depression against patient demographics: this code is intended for maternity cases (age 9 through 64). Claims outside these limits are flagged as inconsistent.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.