F32 ICD-10-CM Code: Depressive episode

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for F32 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2026Effective: October 1, 2025

Coder workflow for F32

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code F32

1. F32 is not reportable as written. Select the more specific code beneath it that the documentation supports. Codes are reported to the highest level of specificity the classification provides (Guidelines I.B.2).

   ReviewF32.0, F32.1, F32.2, F32.3, F32.4, F32.5, F32.8, F32.9, F32.A

   See the relationships section · Guide: How to choose an ICD-10-CM code →

2. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with F32. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

   See the official tabular notes

Choose the right path

1. Does the documentation support one of the more specific codes beneath F32?
   Yes → Select that code and continue the checks below on its own page.
   No → F32 cannot be reported as written; query for the specificity its subcategory needs.

   ReviewF32.0, F32.1, F32.2, F32.3, F32.4, F32.5, F32.8, F32.9, F32.A

2. Does the documentation support a condition named in F32’s Excludes1 note?
   Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
   No → Continue.

   ReviewF31, F30, F33

Consider F32. Then confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement

Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).

Official instructions as workflow

• Excludes1 — check before selecting F32(3 notes)

  Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with F32: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

  CompareF31, F30, F33

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.a

• Excludes2 — not part of F32(1 note)

  Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in F32. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

  CompareF43.2

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Don’t confuse F32 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of F32 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

• F31— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of bipolar disorder moves the case to F31; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: F32 vs F31 →

• F30— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of manic episode moves the case to F30; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: F32 vs F30 →

• F33— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of recurrent depressive disorder moves the case to F33; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: F32 vs F33 →

• F43.2— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of adjustment disorder adds F43.2; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: F32 vs F43.2 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Verify Before Coding

• Not billable as written — a more specific code is required: F32.0, F32.1, F32.2, F32.3, F32.4.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name F32 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 3 Excludes1 notes across 2 chapters: F30 — Manic episode, F31 — Bipolar disorder, R40.1 — Stupor.

These codes’ tabular lists mark this diagnosis as mutually exclusive — not reported together unless the conditions are documented as unrelated.

Referenced by 8 Excludes2 notes across 2 chapters: F06.3 — Mood disorder due to known physiological condition, F42 — Obsessive-compulsive disorder, F44.2 — Dissociative stupor, F63.2 — Kleptomania, F90 — Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders, F91 — Conduct disorders, F93.0 — Separation anxiety disorder of childhood, R53.83 — Other fatigue.

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

Contextual Map

Every relationship of F32 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Run F32 with these 13 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

• F01-F99 — Chapter 5: Mental, Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (F01-F99) (F01-F99)[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• F30-F39 — Mood [affective] disorders[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Excludes1

• F30 — Manic episode[Excludes1]: “manic episode (F30.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• F31 — Bipolar disorder[Excludes1]: “bipolar disorder (F31.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• F33 — Major depressive disorder, recurrent[Excludes1]: “recurrent depressive disorder (F33.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Excludes2

• F43.2 — Adjustment disorders[Excludes2]: “adjustment disorder (F43.2)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

• F30 — Manic episode[Excludes1]: “major depressive disorder, single episode (F32.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• F31 — Bipolar disorder[Excludes1]: “major depressive disorder, single episode (F32.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• R40.1 — Stupor[Excludes1]: “depressive stupor (F31.-, F32.-, F33.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

• F06.3 — Mood disorder due to known physiological condition[Excludes2]: “mood disorders, not due to known physiological condition or unspecified (F30-F39)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• F42 — Obsessive-compulsive disorder[Excludes2]: “obsessive-compulsive symptoms occurring in depression (F32.-, F33.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• F44.2 — Dissociative stupor[Excludes2]: “depressive stupor (F32, F33)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• F63.2 — Kleptomania[Excludes2]: “depressive disorder with stealing (F31.-, F32.-, F33.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• F90 — Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders[Excludes2]: “mood [affective] disorders (F30-F39)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• F91 — Conduct disorders[Excludes2]: “mood [affective] disorders (F30-F39)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• F93.0 — Separation anxiety disorder of childhood[Excludes2]: “mood [affective] disorders (F30-F39)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• R53.83 — Other fatigue[Excludes2]: “exhaustion and fatigue due to depressive episode (F32.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes (11)

• F32.0 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, mild[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• F32.1 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• F32.2 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, severe without psychotic features[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• F32.3 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, severe with psychotic features[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• F32.4 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, in partial remission[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• F32.5 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, in full remission[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• F32.8 — Other depressive episodes[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• F32.81 — Premenstrual dysphoric disorder[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• and 3 more

Change history (3)

• FY2022 — Description revised[Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2022
• and 2 more

Common coding questions

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data

CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Claim edits Official source data

CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data

CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship

Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears

Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation

Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to F32 in its code family, with their registry titles.

• F32.0 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, mild
• F32.1 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate
• F32.2 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, severe without psychotic features
• F32.3 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, severe with psychotic features
• F32.4 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, in partial remission
• F32.5 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, in full remission
• F32.8 — Other depressive episodes
• F32.81 — Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
• F32.89 — Other specified depressive episodes
• F32.9 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified
• F32.A — Depression, unspecified