ICD-10 Code F48.1 – Depersonalization-derealization syndrome (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F48.1 – Depersonalization-derealization syndrome
What it is
F48.1 identifies depersonalization-derealization syndrome, a dissociative condition in which a person feels detached from self, surroundings, or both. The experience is usually persistent or recurrent and causes distress or functional impact.
Clinical signs
Common features include feeling unreal, emotionally numb, or as if observing oneself from outside the body. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation, and confirm that reality testing remains intact.
When to use this code
Use F48.1 when the clinician documents depersonalization-derealization syndrome or a comparable dissociative diagnosis. Apply it when the record describes ongoing depersonalization, derealization, or both, with associated distress or impairment.
Check documentation if the note only mentions transient stress-related detachment, panic symptoms, or another mental health condition without a specific syndrome diagnosis.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for psychosis, delirium, or substance-induced altered perception unless the provider specifically diagnoses depersonalization-derealization syndrome. Check documentation when the chart is nonspecific.
Coding tip
Code only when the provider clearly links the symptoms to depersonalization-derealization syndrome, not merely to anxiety or stress.