Major depressive disorder (MDD) ICD-10 code
The ICD-10-CM code for major depressive disorder (MDD) is F33.9 (major depressive disorder, recurrent, unspecified). It is billable and valid for submission on a claim. There are 16 related codes, and which one you use depends on what the documentation supports.
Also written as major depression, depression.
The mistake coders make here
The split coders get wrong: F32 is a SINGLE episode, F33 is RECURRENT. If the chart says recurrent, or documents a prior episode, it is F33, and severity then picks the fourth character.
Putting major depressive disorder (MDD) on a claim? Check the claim’s diagnosis codes free: Excludes1 conflicts, header codes and missing seventh characters, before it goes out.
ICD-10-CM codes for major depressive disorder (MDD)
14 of 16 are billable. Green means you can submit it as-is.
| Code | Use it when |
|---|---|
| F33.9 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, unspecified |
| F32.9 | Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified |
| F33.0 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, mild |
| F33.1 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate |
| F33.2 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent severe without psychotic features |
| F32.0 | Major depressive disorder, single episode, mild |
| F32.1 | Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate |
| F32.2 | Major depressive disorder, single episode, severe without psychotic features |
| F33 | Major depressive disorder, recurrentnot billable on its own |
| F33.4 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, in remissionnot billable on its own |
| F33.42 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, in full remission |
| F33.41 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, in partial remission |
| F33.40 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, in remission, unspecified |
| F33.8 | Other recurrent depressive disorders |
| F33.3 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, severe with psychotic symptoms |
| F32.5 | Major depressive disorder, single episode, in full remission |
Once you have the code
- Check the whole claim: Excludes1 conflicts and missing seventh characters, free
- Denial codes explained: what CO-16, CO-97 and the rest actually mean
- Decision guides: walk a chart note to a code, guideline cited
- Everything here that is free, and the one thing no free tool includes
Single episode (F32) or recurrent (F33), then severity
The first decision is F32 (single episode) versus F33 (recurrent), and it is the provider's to make: a second documented episode is what makes it recurrent, not the coder's memory of a previous visit. Then the severity character: .0 mild, .1 moderate, .2 severe without psychotic features, .3 severe with psychotic features, .4 in partial remission (F33.41; F32.4), .5 in full remission (F33.42; F32.5), .9 unspecified. F33.40 is recurrent, in remission, unspecified. The severity must be documented by the provider; a PHQ-9 score in the chart does not let a coder assign 'moderate'.
F32.A: 'depression' with no more detail
Since FY2022, 'depression', 'depression NOS' and 'depressive disorder NOS' index to F32.A, depression unspecified, not to F32.9. F32.9 is major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified, and it requires the words 'major depressive disorder' or 'major depression' in the note. The distinction matters: F32.A does not carry the clinical weight of an MDD code, and a provider who means major depression should say so. Query rather than upgrade.
The neighbors that are not MDD
Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) is F34.1. Adjustment disorder with depressed mood is F43.21, and with mixed anxiety and depressed mood F43.23. Bipolar depression is F31.3- to F31.5, never F32/F33, even when the note says 'depressed'. Postpartum depression is F53.0. Depression documented alongside anxiety is two codes: the F32/F33 code and F41.-, unless the provider specifically diagnoses mixed anxiety and depressive disorder, which is F41.8. Whether an MDD code risk-adjusts depends on the severity character, so check the code page's risk-adjustment section before assuming F32.9 counts.
Common questions
- What is the ICD-10 code for major depressive disorder, recurrent?
- F33.9 when the severity is not documented; F33.0 mild, F33.1 moderate, F33.2 severe without psychotic features, F33.3 severe with psychotic features. For a single episode the same pattern applies under F32.
- What is the ICD-10 code for depression, unspecified?
- F32.A. Since FY2022 'depression' without the words 'major depressive disorder' indexes here rather than to F32.9, which requires MDD to be documented.
- Can I code MDD severity from a PHQ-9 score?
- No. The severity character must come from the provider's documented diagnosis. A screening score supports a query for the severity but does not by itself support assigning it.