As with other F-codes, there are several subtypes of dissociative disorders, so it’s important to use the most accurate code possible when you’re diagnosing your client and filing insurance claims.
F44.0, Dissociative amnesia
F44.0, Dissociative amnesia is a disorder characterized by a retrospective gap in memory of important personal information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature. The memory loss far exceeds ordinary forgetfulness and is not the result of substance use or the consequence of another mental disorder or medical condition.
F44.1, Dissociative fugue
F44.1, Dissociative fugue is a disorder characterized by sudden, unexpected travel away from one's home or place of work accompanied by an inability to recall one's past. With dissociative fugue, the individual is confused about his or her personal identity and may assume a new identity.
F44.2, Dissociative stupor
F44.2, Dissociative stupor is a disorder in which a person experiences a significant decrease or complete absence of voluntary movement and responsiveness to external stimuli, without a medical cause. The individual may appear motionless, mute, and unresponsive, yet maintains normal muscle tone and posture.
F44.4, Conversion disorder with motor symptom or deficit
F44.4, Conversion disorder with motor symptom or deficit is a condition where an individual experiences impaired motor function — such as paralysis, abnormal movements, tremors, or muscle weakness — that cannot be explained by a neurological or medical condition.
F44.5, Conversion disorder with seizures or convulsions
F44.5, Conversion disorder with seizures or convulsions is characterized by episodes that resemble epileptic seizures — such as shaking, loss of consciousness, or unresponsiveness — but are not caused by electrical disruptions in the brain.
F44.6, Conversion disorder with sensory symptom or deficit
F44.6, Conversion disorder with sensory symptom or deficit is marked by altered or absent sensory functions — such as numbness, loss of touch, vision, or hearing — that cannot be explained by a medical or neurological condition.
F44.7, Conversion disorder with mixed symptom presentation
F44.7, Conversion disorder with mixed symptom presentation is diagnosed when an individual experiences a combination of motor and sensory symptoms — such as weakness, tremors, numbness, or non-epileptic seizures — that cannot be explained by a medical or neurological condition.
F44.8, Other dissociative and conversion disorders
F44.81 Dissociative identity disorder
F44.81, Dissociative identity disorder is characterized by the presence of two or more identities with distinct patterns of perception and personality which recurrently take control of the person's behavior. This is accompanied by a retrospective gap in memory of important personal information that far exceeds ordinary forgetfulness. With DID, the changes in identity are not due to substance use or to a general medical condition.
F44.89, Other dissociative and conversion disorders
F44.89, Other dissociative and conversion disorders is a category used for dissociative or conversion symptoms that do not fully meet the criteria for more specific F44 diagnoses. Individuals may experience a range of psychological or physical symptoms — such as identity disturbances, altered perception, or motor and sensory issues — that stem from emotional distress without a clear neurological or medical cause. This diagnosis allows for clinical flexibility when symptoms are significant and impairing but don't neatly fit into another dissociative or conversion disorder category.
F44.9, Dissociative and conversion disorder, unspecified
F44.9, Dissociative and conversion disorder, unspecified is used when a person exhibits symptoms of a dissociative or conversion disorder, but the presentation does not clearly align with any specific diagnosis within the F44 category. These symptoms may include disruptions in consciousness, identity, memory, perception, motor function, or sensation that cannot be explained by a medical condition. The unspecified code is typically used when there is insufficient information to make a more precise diagnosis or when the clinician chooses not to specify the exact nature of the disorder.