F34.1
BillableDysthymic disorder
HCC Category Mapping
RxHCCHCC 132 — Major Depressive Disorder and Other Mood Disorders
0.000What This Code Means
Dysthymic disorder is a chronic form of depression where a person experiences persistent low mood and loss of interest in activities for at least two years (one year in children). It's less severe than major depression but lasts much longer.
Coding Tips
- •Verify the duration of symptoms meets the minimum threshold (2 years for adults, 1 year for children) before assigning this code
- •Do not use F34.1 if the patient meets criteria for Major Depressive Disorder; dysthymia is characterized by lower severity but longer duration
Clinical Significance
Dysthymic disorder (persistent depressive disorder) is a chronic form of depression lasting at least 2 years, characterized by a consistently depressed mood for most of the day, more days than not. While less severe than major depression at any given point, the chronicity of dysthymia causes substantial cumulative functional impairment and is associated with significant healthcare utilization over time. Dysthymia frequently coexists with major depressive episodes ('double depression').
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Provider documentation of dysthymic disorder or persistent depressive disorder
- ✓Duration of at least 2 years of chronic depressive symptoms (1 year for adolescents)
- ✓Depressed mood most of the day, more days than not, documented
- ✓At least 2 additional depressive symptoms during the period
- ✓Never symptom-free for more than 2 months during the 2-year period
- ✓Symptoms do not meet criteria for a major depressive episode during the initial 2-year period
- ✓Current treatment plan
Excludes 2 — Not included here, may code separately
- anxiety depression (mild or not persistent) (F41.8)
Commonly Confused Codes
F33.0 — Major depressive disorder, recurrent, mild: Episodic rather than chronic depressionF32.0 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, mild: Episodic, not chronicF34.0 — Cyclothymic disorder: Includes hypomanic symptoms, not purely depressiveF32.A — Depression, unspecified: Less specific, does not capture the chronic nature