2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R46Symptoms and signs involving appearance and behavior

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R40-R46›R46

ICD-10-CM R46
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

R46 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for symptoms and signs involving appearance and behavior, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as R46.0, R46.1, R46.2, and R46.3. As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R46
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Symptoms and signs involving appearance and behavior
Short Description
Symptoms and signs involving appearance and behavior
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
R40-R46
Symptoms and signs involving cognition, perception, emotional state and behavior

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
CategoryR46Symptoms and signs involving appearance and behavior
This CodeR46Symptoms and signs involving appearance and behavior

Specific Coding for Symptoms and signs involving appearance and behaviorOverview

Non-specific codes like R46 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use R46.0 for Very low level of personal hygiene

  • Use R46.1 for Bizarre personal appearance

  • Use R46.2 for Strange and inexplicable behavior

  • Use R46.3 for Overactivity

  • Use R46.4 for Slowness and poor responsiveness

  • Use R46.5 for Suspiciousness and marked evasiveness

  • Use R46.6 for Undue concern and preoccupation with stressful events

  • Use R46.7 for Verbosity and circumstantial detail obscuring reason for contact

  • R46.8 for Other symptoms and signs involving appearance and behavior

  • Use R46.81 for Obsessive-compulsive behavior

  • Use R46.89 for Other symptoms and signs involving appearance and behavior

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to R46: 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.

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • appearance and behavior in schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders (F20-F29)
  • mental and behavioral disorders (F01-F99)

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.

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 R46Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for symptoms and signs involving appearance and behavior?

R46 is the ICD-10-CM category for symptoms and signs involving appearance and behavior, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is R46 (Symptoms and signs involving appearance and behavior) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for symptoms and signs involving appearance and behavior, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for symptoms and signs involving appearance and behavior need a more specific code from this category, such as R46.0, R46.1, and R46.2.

Can R46 be a principal diagnosis?

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