Schizophrenia (F20)
ICD-10 code F20 and its subcodes categorize various types of schizophrenia, a complex mental health disorder affecting perception, thought, and behavior. These codes are used for precise diagnosis and treatment planning according to the specific schizophrenia subtype.
The main code F20 identifies general schizophrenia. More detailed codes specify subtypes based on symptoms and course: F20.0 covers paranoid schizophrenia, known for hallucinations and delusions; F20.1 is for disorganized schizophrenia, marked by disorganized speech and behavior. F20.2 classifies catatonic schizophrenia, with abnormal movement and behavior patterns. F20.3 denotes undifferentiated schizophrenia when symptoms don't match other types, while F20.5 represents residual schizophrenia, indicating ongoing symptoms after acute phases.
Other codes such as F20.81 identify schizophreniform disorder, a short-duration schizophrenia-like illness. The broader F20.8 and F20.89 cover other schizophrenia variants including simple schizophrenia, and F20.9 is for unspecified schizophrenia cases. Using synonyms like “chronic paranoid schizophrenia” or “acute exacerbation of chronic schizophrenia” helps medical coders select the correct ICD-10 code for documentation and billing.
Mental and behavioural disorders (F01–F99)
Schizophrenia, schizotypal, delusional, and other non-mood psychotic disorders (F20-F29)
F20 Schizophrenia
- F20.0 Paranoid schizophrenia
- F20.1 Disorganized schizophrenia
- F20.2 Catatonic schizophrenia
- F20.3 Undifferentiated schizophrenia
- F20.5 Residual schizophrenia
F20.8 Other schizophrenia
- F20.81 Schizophreniform disorder
- F20.89 Other schizophrenia
- F20.9 Schizophrenia, unspecified
Schizophrenia (F20)
Instructional Notations
Use Additional Code
The “use additional code” indicates that a secondary code could be used to further specify the patient’s condition. This note is not mandatory and is only used if enough information is available to assign an additional code.
- code, if applicable, to identify:
- other specified cognitive deficit R41.84
Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
- brief psychotic disorder F23
- cyclic schizophrenia F25.0
- mood [affective] disorders with psychotic symptoms F30.2 F31.2 F31.5 F31.64 F32.3 F33.3
- schizoaffective disorder F25
- schizophrenic reaction NOS F23
Type 2 Excludes
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
- schizophrenic reaction in:
- alcoholism F10.15 F10.25 F10.95
- brain disease F06.2
- epilepsy F06.2
- psychoactive drug use F11 F19
- schizotypal disorder F21
Clinical Terms
The following clinical terms provide additional context, helping users better understand the clinical background and common associations for each diagnosis listed in this section. Including related terms alongside ICD-10-CM codes supports coders, billers, and healthcare professionals in improving accuracy, enhancing documentation, and facilitating research or patient education.
Hallucinations
Subjectively experienced sensations in the absence of an appropriate stimulus, but which are regarded by the individual as real. They may be of organic origin or associated with MENTAL DISORDERS.
Schizophrenia
A severe emotional disorder of psychotic depth characteristically marked by a retreat from reality with delusion formation, HALLUCINATIONS, emotional disharmony, and regressive behavior.
Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
Marked disorders of thought (delusions, hallucinations, or other thought disorder accompanied by disordered affect or behavior), and deterioration from a previous level of functioning. Individuals have one o more of the following symptoms: delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech. (from DSM-5)
Schizophrenia, Catatonic
A type of schizophrenia characterized by abnormality of motor behavior which may involve particular forms of stupor, rigidity, excitement or inappropriate posture.
Schizophrenia, Childhood
An obsolete concept, historically used for childhood mental disorders thought to be a form of schizophrenia. It was in earlier versions of DSM but is now included within the broad concept of PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENT DISORDERS.
Schizophrenia, Disorganized
A type of schizophrenia characterized by frequent incoherence; marked loosening of associations, or grossly disorganized behavior and flat or grossly inappropriate affect that does not meet the criteria for the catatonic type; associated features include extreme social withdrawal, grimacing, mannerisms, mirror gazing, inappropriate giggling, and other odd behavior. (Dorland, 27th ed)
Schizophrenia, Paranoid
A chronic form of schizophrenia characterized primarily by the presence of persecutory or grandiose delusions, often associated with hallucination.
Schizophrenia, Treatment-Resistant
A subset of schizophrenia with an inadequate response in target symptoms following treatment with two or more ANTIPSYCHOTICS.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
A personality disorder in which there are oddities of thought (magical thinking, paranoid ideation, suspiciousness), perception (illusions, depersonalization), speech (digressive, vague, overelaborate), and behavior (inappropriate affect in social interactions, frequently social isolation) that are not severe enough to characterize schizophrenia.
