ICD-10 for therapists
F32.0 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, mild
A first (or only) episode of major depression in which symptom count is just over threshold, distress is manageable, and functioning is only minorly impaired.
- Code
- F32.0 (ICD-10-CM)
- Common CPT pairings
- 90791 · 90834 · 90837 · 90847
Clinical picture
- Five or more depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, including depressed mood or anhedonia, at the minimum end of severity.
- Symptoms are distressing but manageable; social and occupational functioning is largely intact.
- Differentiate from adjustment disorder with depressed mood (F43.21), where the picture is tied to an identifiable stressor and does not meet full MDD criteria.
Documentation tips
- Chart the symptom count and duration explicitly — 'meets 5/9 criteria for 3 weeks' survives an audit better than 'appears mildly depressed.'
- Note the single-episode history; if there is a prior major depressive episode, the F33.x (recurrent) family applies instead.
- Record a measurement-based baseline (e.g., PHQ-9) to support both severity and later progress.
Billing notes
Commonly paired with standard psychotherapy codes. Severity specifiers rarely change reimbursement, but accurate coding supports medical-necessity review; mild severity may draw utilization review sooner than moderate or severe.
Related codes
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Start free — no credit cardThis reference summarizes ICD-10-CM coding conventions and common billing practice for licensed clinicians. It is not medical, legal, or payer-specific billing advice; diagnosis requires clinical evaluation, and payer policies vary. Verify codes against the current ICD-10-CM release.