ICD-10 Code F23 – Brief psychotic disorder (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F23 – Brief psychotic disorder
What it is
F23 identifies a sudden, short-lived psychotic episode with a rapid return to baseline. Use it when the record shows brief delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech or behavior, and the episode does not meet criteria for a longer psychotic disorder.
Clinical signs
Typical signs include acute onset of psychotic symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, or markedly disorganized behavior. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation for duration, onset, and any noted stressor or postpartum association.
When to use this code
Use F23 when the clinician documents brief psychotic disorder, including an episode lasting at least one day but less than one month with eventual return to prior functioning. Apply it when the chart supports a primary psychotic episode and excludes substance-induced, medical, or chronic psychotic conditions.
Do not use for
Do not use F23 for schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, or psychotic disorder due to another medical condition. Also avoid it when documentation points to substance-induced psychosis or when the episode duration is not consistent with brief psychotic disorder.
Coding tip
Check documentation for onset, duration, and any stated trigger, because those details support F23 and help you rule out better-matched psychotic disorder codes.