2027 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 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

R45.86 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for emotional lability. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 883. 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
  • Disturbance in mood
  • 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

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to R45.86: its own notes plus those printed at block R40-R46 and Chapter 18. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

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 Block R40-R46 Symptoms and signs involving cognition, perception, emotional state and behavior applies to 157 codes
  • symptoms and signs constituting part of a pattern of mental disorder (F01-F99)
From Chapter 18 (R00-R99) Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified applies to 774 codes
  • abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • signs and symptoms classified in the body system chapters
  • signs and symptoms of breast (N63, N64.5)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 18 (R00-R99) Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified applies to 774 codes
  • This chapter includes symptoms, signs, abnormal results of clinical or other investigative procedures, and ill-defined conditions regarding which no diagnosis classifiable elsewhere is recorded.
  • Signs and symptoms that point rather definitely to a given diagnosis have been assigned to a category in other chapters of the classification. In general, categories in this chapter include the less well-defined conditions and symptoms that, without the necessary study of the case to establish a final diagnosis, point perhaps equally to two or more diseases or to two or more systems of the body. Practically all categories in the chapter could be designated 'not otherwise specified', 'unknown etiology' or 'transient'. The Alphabetical Index should be consulted to determine which symptoms and signs are to be allocated here and which to other chapters. The residual subcategories, numbered .8, are generally provided for other relevant symptoms that cannot be allocated elsewhere in the classification.
  • The conditions and signs or symptoms included in categories R00-R94 consist of:
  • (a) cases for which no more specific diagnosis can be made even after all the facts bearing on the case have been investigated;
  • (b) signs or symptoms existing at the time of initial encounter that proved to be transient and whose causes could not be determined;
  • (c) provisional diagnosis in a patient who failed to return for further investigation or care;
  • (d) cases referred elsewhere for investigation or treatment before the diagnosis was made;
  • (e) cases in which a more precise diagnosis was not available for any other reason;
  • (f) certain symptoms, for which supplementary information is provided, that represent important problems in medical care in their own right.

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name R45.86, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming R45.86: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • F07.0 Personality change due to known physiological condition
    signs and symptoms involving emotional state (R45.-) names R45.-, which includes this code

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

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

  • Mood Lability

    a condition of frequent mood changes associated with excessive emotional reactions.

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 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About R45.86Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for emotional lability?

The ICD-10-CM code for emotional lability is R45.86 (sometimes written as R4586). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

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, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does R45.86 group to?

When emotional lability is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 883 (disorders of Personality and Impulse Control), which carries a relative weight of 1.7398. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

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.