ICD-10 code for major depressive disorder and what to document.
The code for major depressive disorder depends on three things the note must state: single or recurrent episode, current severity and remission status. Without them, the code falls back to F32.9 or F32.A.
Updated · IntelliNotes product team
ICD-10 code for major depressive disorder
Major depressive disorder is coded in two categories. F32, Depressive episode, covers a single episode; F33, Major depressive disorder, recurrent, covers recurrent episodes. Within each category, the fourth and fifth characters record severity, psychotic features and remission. “Major depression” with no further detail is F32.9; “depression” alone is F32.A.
F32 and F33 codes
| Code | Official FY2026 descriptor | What the note must support |
|---|---|---|
| F32.0 | Major depressive disorder, single episode, mild | Single episode; mild. |
| F32.1 | Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate | Single episode; moderate. |
| F32.2 | Major depressive disorder, single episode, severe without psychotic features | Single episode; severe; no psychotic features. |
| F32.3 | Major depressive disorder, single episode, severe with psychotic features | Single episode; severe; psychotic features present. |
| F32.4 | Major depressive disorder, single episode, in partial remission | Single episode; partial remission. |
| F32.5 | Major depressive disorder, single episode, in full remission | Single episode; full remission. |
| F32.9 | Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified | Major depression with no further detail (inclusion term: Major depression NOS). |
| F32.A | Depression, unspecified | Depression or depressive disorder with no further detail (Depression NOS, Depressive disorder NOS). |
| F33.0 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, mild | Recurrent; mild. |
| F33.1 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate | Recurrent; moderate. |
| F33.2 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent severe without psychotic features | Recurrent; severe; no psychotic features. |
| F33.3 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, severe with psychotic symptoms | Recurrent; severe; psychotic symptoms present. |
| F33.40 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, in remission, unspecified | Recurrent; in remission, partial or full not stated. |
| F33.41 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, in partial remission | Recurrent; partial remission. |
| F33.42 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, in full remission | Recurrent; full remission. |
| F33.9 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, unspecified | Recurrent; severity and remission status not stated. |
What the note must state
Chapter 5 of the FY2026 guidelines (I.C.5) has no section specific to depression. The code comes from the Tabular List and the general conventions, so these details have to be stated in the note.
Single episode or recurrent
State whether this is a single episode or recurrent major depressive disorder. Category F32 has an Excludes1 note for recurrent depressive disorder (F33.-), and an Excludes1 code is never used at the same time as the code above the note (I.A.12.a).
Current severity and psychotic features
State the severity as mild, moderate or severe. For a severe episode, state whether psychotic features are present. Codes are reported to the highest level of specificity documented (I.B.2).
Remission status
When the disorder is in remission, state whether it is partial or full. For recurrent disorder in remission without that detail, the code is F33.40.
The diagnosis itself, in the clinician’s words
Code assignment is based on the clinician’s diagnostic statement that the condition exists, not on the clinical criteria used to reach it (I.A.19). A screening score in the note does not by itself establish the severity; the diagnostic statement does. Unspecified codes such as F32.9, F33.9 and F32.A are for when the record does not have enough information for a more specific code (I.A.9.b, I.B.18).
What the codes exclude
F32 and F33 both have Excludes1 notes for bipolar disorder (F31.-) and manic episode (F30.-). F32 also has an Excludes2 note for adjustment disorder (F43.2). Documenting the absence of manic or hypomanic episodes supports the choice of a depressive disorder code.
Codes that are often confused
- F32.9 vs F32.A: F32.9 is major depression NOS; F32.A is depression NOS. A note that says only “depression” does not support a major depressive disorder code.
- F32.9 vs F33.9: a recurrent disorder is coded in F33, even when severity is not stated.
- F33.40 vs F33.41 or F33.42: F33.40 is remission not specified as partial or full.
- F32.2 vs F32.3, F33.2 vs F33.3: severe episodes are split by the presence of psychotic features.
Sample note drafted in IntelliNotes
This draft uses the SOAP sections that IntelliNotes generates from a selected diagnosis. F33.1 is supported because the note states that the disorder is recurrent, that the current episode is moderate without psychotic features and that it is not in remission.
SUBJECTIVE:
- Chief Complaint: Follow-up visit for depression.
- History of Present Illness (HPI): Patient in their 40s with major depressive disorder, recurrent; the current episode is the third documented episode. Reports low mood most days, reduced interest in usual activities, poor sleep and low energy over recent weeks. Continues long-term antidepressant medication and ongoing psychotherapy.
- Review of Systems (ROS): Reports reduced appetite. Denies periods of elevated mood or decreased need for sleep.
- Past Medical History: Major depressive disorder, recurrent. No history of manic or hypomanic episodes.
- Current Medications: Antidepressant medication (long-term use).
- Allergies: Not documented.
OBJECTIVE:
- Vital Signs: Not documented.
- Mental Status Examination: Appropriately groomed and cooperative. Speech normal in rate and volume. Mood described as “down most days”; affect constricted. Thought process linear. Denies suicidal and homicidal ideation; no delusions. No hallucinations. Alert and oriented. Insight and judgment fair.
- Screening: PHQ-9 completed; score 12.
ASSESSMENT:
- Primary diagnosis: Major depressive disorder, recurrent, current episode moderate, without psychotic features. Not in remission.
- Differential diagnoses: Bipolar disorder considered; no history of manic or hypomanic episodes.
- ICD-10 codes:
F33.1 - Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate
PLAN:
- Treatment plan: Continues current antidepressant medication and psychotherapy; adherence and tolerability reviewed.
- Medications prescribed: No changes documented.
- Safety: Crisis resources reviewed with the patient.
- Follow-up: Return visit scheduled.
- Referrals: None documented.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ICD-10 code for major depressive disorder?
It depends on the episode and severity. A single episode is coded F32.0 to F32.5 (or F32.9 when unspecified); a recurrent disorder is coded F33.0 to F33.42 (or F33.9 when unspecified). “Major depression” with no further detail is F32.9.
What is the difference between F32.9 and F32.A?
F32.9, Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified, includes major depression NOS. F32.A, Depression, unspecified, includes depression NOS and depressive disorder NOS. A note that says only “depression” supports F32.A, not a major depressive disorder code.
How should remission be documented for major depressive disorder?
State whether the remission is partial or full. A single episode in remission is F32.4 or F32.5; a recurrent disorder in remission is F33.41 or F33.42. F33.40 is used when a recurrent disorder is in remission but partial or full is not stated.
Can F32 and F33 codes be reported together?
No. Category F32 has an Excludes1 note for recurrent depressive disorder (F33.-), and guideline I.A.12.a says an excluded code should never be used at the same time as the code above the note. Document whether the disorder is a single episode or recurrent so that one category can be chosen.
Sources
Codes and descriptors were checked on November 10, 2026 against the FY2026 ICD-10-CM code set (effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026), including the April 1, 2026 update.
- CDC NCHS: FY2026 ICD-10-CM code descriptions (ZIP)
- CDC NCHS: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and Alphabetic Index (ZIP)
- CDC NCHS: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2026 (PDF)
- CMS: April 1, 2026 ICD-10-CM code descriptions in tabular order (ZIP)
- CMS: FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Coding Guidelines (PDF)
- CMS: ICD-10 code files and guidelines
Educational documentation guidance, not medical or coding advice. Confirm codes against the current code set and payer rules.
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