F33.8 – Other recurrent depressive disorders

F33.8 diagnosis code: Other recurrent depressive disorders

F33.8 refers to “other recurrent depressive disorders,” a diagnostic code in the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10-CM).

The F33.8 code applies when a patient presents with recurrent episodes of depression that vary in severity but still cause significant disruption to daily life. These recurrent depressive conditions may lack typical psychotic symptoms, yet still include core depressive symptoms such as persistent sadness, loss of interest or pleasure (anhedonia), fatigue, low appetite, and diminished concentration.

This diagnosis helps healthcare providers identify and manage affective disorders that are classified as neither mild nor major depressive disorder with clear subtypes. It’s part of the broader category of mental and behavioural disorders and reflects the complexity of mood affective disorders beyond clearly defined categories.

Is F33.8 billable?

Yes, F33.8 is a billable code. This means that it can be used in medical billing to specify a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. Moreover, it applies to patients experiencing other forms of recurrent depressive disorders not classified elsewhere in F33.

Clinical information

The clinical picture of F33.8 can encompass a wide range of depressive disorders. Though not always meeting the criteria for major depressive disorder, these conditions still involve recurrent depression episodes with symptoms such as:

• Low mood and loss of interest in daily activities
• Depressive episodes that fluctuate in severity
• Physical manifestations like disrupted sleep, poor appetite, and low energy
• Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, or guilt
• Decreased concentration and social withdrawal

Synonyms include

• Recurrent depressive disorder NOS
• Recurrent depressive disorder, unspecified
• Periodic depression
• Recurrent brief depressive disorder
• Depressive disorder, recurrent, unspecified

Other ICD-10 codes commonly used for depression

• F32.0 – Major depressive disorder, single episode, mild
• F33 – Major depressive disorder, recurrent
• F32.9 – Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified
• F34.1 – Dysthymic disorder
• F43.21 – Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
• F31.3 – Bipolar disorder, current episode depressed, mild or moderate
• F31.2 – Bipolar disorder, current episode manic severe without psychotic features
• F25.1 – Schizoaffective disorder, depressive type
• F20.2 – Catatonic schizophrenia