2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R45.86Emotional lability

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R40-R46›R45

ICD-10-CM R45.86
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R45.86 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for emotional lability. 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
R45.86
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Emotional lability
Short Description
Emotional lability
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R45.8
Other 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 CodeR45.86Emotional lability

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Becomes angry very easily
  • Cyclic mood swings
  • Depression worse in morning
  • Depression worse later in day
  • Difficulty controlling anger
  • Difficulty controlling emotions
  • Disturbance in affect
  • Diurnal variation of mood
  • Easily upset
  • Finding related to ability to control anger
  • Finding related to ability to control emotions
  • Labile affect
  • Mood swings
  • Moody
  • Temperamental
  • Unpredictable in mood
  • Volatile Mood

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.

    • Emotional lability
    • Symptoms NEC
      • involving
        • emotional state NEC
          • emotional lability

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

Convert R45.86 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
799.24 Emotional lability
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

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 R45.86Overview

Is R45.86 (Other symptoms and signs involving emotional state) a billable code?

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

Can R45.86 be a principal diagnosis?

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

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R45.86?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, emotional lability converts to ICD-9-CM 799.24 (emotional lability). The mapping is a direct match.

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.