2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R45.6Violent behavior

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R40-R46›R45

ICD-10-CM R45.6
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R45.6 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for violent behavior. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Symptoms of mental and substance use conditions.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R45.6
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Violent behavior
Short Description
Violent behavior
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R45
Symptoms and signs involving emotional state

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR40-R46Symptoms and signs involving cognition, perception, emotional state and behavior
CategoryR45Symptoms and signs involving emotional state
This CodeR45.6Violent behavior

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Aggressive biting
  • Arson
  • Biting other person
  • Breaking objects
  • Breaking windows
  • Bullying
  • Cruel behavior
  • Cutting other person
  • Destructive behavior
  • Destructive behavior toward property
  • Drowning other person
  • Emotional bullying
  • Fighting
  • Garrotting other person
  • Gouging other person
  • Grabbing hold of other person
  • Hitting other person
  • Hitting other person with object
  • Homicidal behavior
  • Intimidation
  • Lashing out at other person
  • Malicious damage
  • Mocking
  • Nipping other person
  • Physical aggression
  • Physical bullying
  • Physically abusive behavior
  • Physically abusive to partner
  • Physically threatening behavior
  • Pinching other person
  • Pulling other person's hair
  • Punching other person
  • Pushing other person
  • Redirected aggression
  • Reinforced aggression
  • Sadism
  • Sadistic torture
  • Scratching other person
  • Sexual aggression
  • Sexually assaultive behavior
  • Shooting other person
  • Slapping other person
  • Slashing other person with sharp object
  • Smashing up furniture
  • Stabbing other person
  • Strangling other person
  • Suffocating other person
  • Suffocating other person through smothering
  • Threatening behavior
  • Torture
  • Vandalism
  • Violent acts towards others
  • Violent motor activity

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.

    • Violence, physical

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR SYM008
Symptoms of mental and substance use conditions
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Bullying

    aggressive behavior by a more powerful party that results in physical harm to or emotional distress of the victim.

  • Cyberbullying

    bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones and computers. it includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. it can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. (from https://www.stopbullying.gov)

  • Occupational Stress

    adverse psychological and behavioral reactions caused by the pressures and demands of employers or clients or other factors, such as the physical environment of the workplace, workplace violence; or workplace bullying.

  • Torture

    the intentional infliction of physical or mental suffering upon an individual or individuals, including the torture of animals.

  • Sadism

    a condition in which there is a derivation of pleasure from inflicting pain, discomfort or humiliation on another person or persons. the sexual significance of sadistic wishes or behavior may be conscious or unconscious.

  • Violent Behavior

    any action that results in intimidation, harm, damage, or destruction of someone or something.

Patient EducationClinical

Mental Disorders

Mental disorders (or mental illnesses) are conditions that affect your thinking, feeling, mood, and behavior. They may happen over a short period of time or come and go. Some can be chronic (long-lasting). They can affect your ability to relate to others and function each day..

The full article covers:

  • What are mental disorders?
  • What are some types of mental disorders?
  • What causes mental disorders?
  • Who is at risk for mental disorders?
  • How are mental disorders diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for mental disorders?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert R45.6 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
300.9 Nonpsychotic disord NOS
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About R45.6Overview

Is R45.6 (Symptoms and signs involving emotional state) a billable code?

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

Can R45.6 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the violent behavior is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R45.6?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, violent behavior converts to ICD-9-CM 300.9 (nonpsychotic disord NOS). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

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.