F43.8 – Other reactions to severe stress
The ICD-10-CM code F43.8 designates patients with Other reactions to severe stress. By reading this short guide, learn what this code entails, its clinical information, whether it’s billable, FAQs, and even related ICD-10 codes.
Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.
F43.8 Diagnosis Code: Other reactions to severe stress
The F43.8 is an ICD code included in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM, for short), and it is used to designate “Other reactions to severe stress.”
There are two essential things to note regarding this ICD-10 code:
- This is a non-specific ICD-10 code, which means that there are no specific ICD-10 codes for these “other reactions” to severe stress
- This code is no longer usable because it has been replaced with two other codes:
- F43.81 - Prolonged grief disorder
- F43.89 - Other reactions to severe stress
Please use these codes instead because you can longer use this one.
Is the F43.8 billable?
No. The F43.8 ICD-10 code is not billable and can no longer be used.
F43.8 clinical information:
The F43.8 is no longer a valid ICD-10 code, and it shouldn’t be used at all.
This ICD-10 was to designate Other reactions to severe stress. Stress can be caused by many things, from unreasonable workloads at work, financial woes, difficult changes in life like divorce or getting laid off from a job, and traumatic events like natural disasters, threats of war, and death.
When a person is stressed, they may respond in different ways. Sometimes, the way they respond is problematic and may affect others. Here is a short list of responses to stress that a person might do or experience:
- Become anxious
- Become depressed
- Become susceptible to getting sick
- Panic attacks
- Lashing out
- Overeat
- Have trouble sleeping
These are not good. If a person is stressed all the time, it can result in unwanted outcomes. Some people will experience an increase in blood pressure, anxiety, or depression. In the worst cases, some people develop heart disease and diabetes.
Treatment for stress could be any number of things, including practicing self-care (treat yo self!), getting enough exercise, avoiding consumption of caffeinated products (because this could exacerbate the stress and make a person palpitate), seeking help and comfort from family and friends, and attending therapy.
Again, please don’t use this code.
F43.8 synonyms include:
- Caregiver stress syndrome
- Muscle tension
- Stress and adjustment reaction
- Stress-induced muscle tension
Other ICD-10 codes commonly used for stress:
- F43 - Reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders
- F43.0 - Acute stress reaction
- F43.10 - Post-traumatic stress disorder, unspecified
- F43.11 - Post-traumatic stress disorder, acute
- F43.12 - Post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic
- F43.20 - Adjustment disorder, unspecified
- F43.21 - Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
- F43.22 - Adjustment disorder with anxiety
- F43.23 - Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood
- F43.9 - Reaction to severe stress, unspecified
- F43.89 - Other reactions to severe stress
- F43.81 - Prolonged grief disorder
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Commonly asked questions
No, this ICD-10 code is not billable.
It’s best to not use this ICD-10 code because it is no longer valid. Please use something else, like F43.89 and F43.9.
It can be simple as partaking in relaxing activities. Other treatments can include getting regular exercise and making lifestyle changes like avoiding caffeine. Attending therapy is also good if stress has led the patient to thinking self-harming thoughts.
