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Borderline Personality Disorder ICD 10 Code
Refresher: What are ICD-10 codes?
ICD-10 is short for the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision. It is a coding system used to classify diseases, symptoms, procedures, etc.
ICD-10 includes over 68,000 codes, whereas its predecessor ICD-9 only had 13,000 codes. This shows that the 10th revision provides greater diagnostic clarity and specificity.
These codes are further divided into the following categories:
ICD-10-CM is used for diagnosis, whereas ICD-10-PCS is used in in-patient settings for coding procedures. The codes represent information about various diseases, their signs and symptoms, their external causes, abnormal findings, etc.
These codes have also enabled healthcare providers to make the right clinical decisions, identify fraud and measure the outcomes of care given to patients.
Hence, the key to diagnostic clarity is finding the correct ICD-10 code by identifying the type and location of a disease/condition.
What is the ICD-10 Code for borderline personality disorder?
The ICD-10 code for borderline personality disorder is F60.3. The code F60.3 falls under the category “Specific personality disorders” represented by F60 [3].
Borderline personality disorder is an illness that hinders a person’s ability to manage their emotions effectively. The disorder often enhances impulsivity and affects a person’s feelings about themselves. As a result, their relationships with others are also affected [4].
The table below lists the subcategories of “Specific personality disorders” represented by F60.
- Borderline personality disorder ICD-10 code: F60.3
- Borderline personality disorder ICD code F60.3 Lookup
There are no subcategories of borderline personality disorder under F60.3. Hence, below is a table of the ICD-10 “Specific personality disorders” codes with borderline personality disorder under F60.3.
F60: Specific personality disorders
Types of Borderline Personality Disorders Under F60.3
ICD-10 code F60.3 represents borderline personality disorder, but there are no subcategories represented by additional codes under it. The disorder itself is part of a broad range of categories under "Specific personality disorders (F60)."
While there are no types of borderline personality disorder, the symptoms of this illness can sometimes be similar to symptoms of other disorders, such as:
- Bipolar disorder (F31) [5]
- Depression (F33) [6]
- Anxiety (F41.1) [7]
- Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (F43.1) [8]
The most common symptoms of borderline personality disorder are:
- Intense mood swings
- Impulsive/self-destructive behaviors
- Unclear self-image
- A pattern of unstable relationships
Distinguishing borderline personality disorder (BPD) from other similar disorders is imperative in order to treat the condition effectively. Both conditions involve mood swings. But, if the mood swings are episodic, they may be due to bipolar disorder.
On the other hand, if the mood swings are persistent and not episodic, it may be due to borderline personality disorder. Bipolar disorder is strictly a mood disorder, whereas BPD is a personality disorder.
Types of Borderline Personality Disorder Excluded from ICD-10 F60.3
The code ICD-10 F60.3 represents borderline personality disorder as an independent disorder. However, another disorder that can co-occur with BPD is antisocial personality disorder (F60.2) [9].
For example, in some cases, people with BPD can have an intense fear of abandonment. But they may also have impulse control issues like people with antisocial personality disorder. The co-existence of such symptoms can make the diagnosis tricky.
Hence, it is acceptable to use both codes (F60.3 and F60.2) together if the diagnosis requires it.
Conclusion
Diagnosing borderline personality disorder can be complicated, especially because it has some symptoms similar to other personality disorders and even mood disorders. Reaching the right diagnostic conclusion requires examining the symptoms carefully.
By using specific codes, healthcare providers can create specific treatment plans for patients and improve their quality of life. It is also likely for BPD symptoms to co-occur with antisocial personality disorder symptoms. Since both codes can be used together, healthcare providers can also create treatment plans for both disorders.
Psychotherapy is one of the most common treatment methods for borderline personality disorder. However, healthcare providers may also prescribe medications to tackle symptoms.
Leaving borderline personality disorder untreated can lead to serious and often life-threatening consequences. In the worst-case scenario, it may also lead to self-harm and suicidal behaviors.
Determining the right code is the only way to improve a patient’s quality of life. Assigning the right code depends on the causes and origins of a condition, its symptoms, and how long the symptoms have existed.
ICD-10 codes for personality disorders can help doctors reach the right diagnostic conclusion, create detailed documentation and provide the best care to patients with borderline personality disorder.