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2025 ICD-10-CM code F40.9

Unspecified phobic anxiety disorder. Persistent, intense fear of a place, situation, animal, or other things unlikely to cause harm, without documentation of the specific type.

Use this code when the documentation does not specify the type of phobic anxiety disorder and other codes in the F40 category are not appropriate.Do not use this code if the provider has documented the specific type of phobia.

Medical necessity for F40.9 is established when a provider identifies a phobic anxiety disorder through clinical evaluation but is unable to determine the specific type of phobia. This diagnosis should be supported by the patient's symptoms and functional impairments, indicating a need for treatment.

Phobias usually begin in children or teens and continue into adulthood. Phobic anxiety disorders can be so strong that they can interfere with an individual’s work, social, and personal relationships. Patients may experience fear, panic attacks, increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, chest heaviness, sweats or chills, unsteadiness, and a desire to get away from the object or situation causing their fear. Diagnosis is based on DSM criteria, patient history, signs and symptoms, and a detailed inquiry into personal and social behavior and physical examination. Treatment includes cognitive behavioral therapy and anxiolytic medications.

In simple words: This code is used when someone has a strong, ongoing fear of something that is not likely to be harmful, but the doctor hasn't specified what the fear is about.

Unspecified phobic anxiety disorders refer to persistent intense fear of a place, situation, animal, or other things that are unlikely to cause harm. The provider does not document the nature or type of the patient's phobic anxiety disorder.

Example 1: A patient presents with symptoms of extreme anxiety in various situations, but the specific phobia cannot be determined during the initial evaluation., A child exhibits persistent avoidance behavior, but the underlying fear is not yet identified through standard diagnostic tools or interviews., An individual experiences panic attacks without a clear trigger, and further investigation is needed to identify a potential phobia.

Documentation should include the patient's symptoms, the duration and severity of the fear, any associated functional impairments, and the lack of specific details regarding the object or situation causing the fear. Diagnostic criteria based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) should be referenced.

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