ICD-10 Code F40.24 – Situational type phobia (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F40.24 – Situational type phobia
What it is
F40.24 identifies a specific phobia tied to certain situations, such as flying, driving, elevators, or enclosed spaces. The fear is out of proportion to the actual risk and leads to avoidance or marked distress.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Common findings include intense fear or anxiety triggered by the situation, immediate distress on exposure, and persistent avoidance that interferes with daily activities.
When to use this code
Use F40.24 when the record documents a situational phobia as the primary diagnosis and the trigger is clearly a situation rather than an object or animal. Code it when the clinician describes avoidance, panic-like symptoms, or functional impairment linked to that situation. Check documentation if the exact phobia type is unclear.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for generalized anxiety, panic disorder without a specific situational trigger, or other phobia types such as social or animal phobias. Check documentation if the chart does not clearly identify a situational trigger.
Coding tip
Match the documented trigger to the code description before assigning F40.24.