F33.2
BillableMajor depressive disorder, recurrent severe without psychotic features
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 155 — Major Depressive, Bipolar, and Paranoid Disorders
0.425V24HCC 59 — Major Depressive, Bipolar, and Paranoid Disorders
0.309ESRDHCC 59 — Major Depressive, Bipolar, and Paranoid Disorders
0.000RxHCCHCC 132 — Major Depressive Disorder and Other Mood Disorders
0.000What This Code Means
Multiple episodes of severe depression throughout a person's life with significant symptoms that greatly impair functioning, but without hallucinations or delusions.
Coding Tips
- •Confirm absence of psychotic features; if present, use F33.3
- •Document history of recurrent episodes and current severe symptomatology
Clinical Significance
Major depressive disorder, recurrent, severe without psychotic features indicates a pattern of repeated major depressive episodes with the current episode causing marked functional impairment. Recurrent severe depression is among the most debilitating psychiatric conditions, often requiring multiple medication trials, hospitalization, and extensive psychotherapy. Patients with this pattern are at high risk for suicide and chronic disability.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Provider documentation of major depressive disorder with recurrent episodes
- ✓History of at least two separate major depressive episodes
- ✓Current episode documented as severe
- ✓Explicit absence of psychotic features (no delusions or hallucinations)
- ✓Suicide risk assessment and safety plan
- ✓Evidence of marked functional impairment
- ✓Comprehensive treatment plan
Commonly Confused Codes
F33.3 — Major depressive disorder, recurrent, severe with psychotic features: Requires documented psychosisF33.1 — Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate: Less severe impairmentF32.2 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, severe: Only one lifetime episodeF31.4 — Bipolar disorder, depressed, severe: Use when bipolar history is present
Code Hierarchy
└F33Major depressive disorder, recurrent└F33.2Major depressive disorder, recurrent severe without psychotic features
└F33.2Major depressive disorder, recurrent severe without psychotic features