F40.241

Billable

Acrophobia

HCC Category Mapping

RxHCCHCC 133 — Personality Disorders, Anxiety, and Other Specified Mental Disorders

0.000

What This Code Means

An intense, irrational fear of heights that can cause anxiety or panic when at significant elevations.

Coding Tips

•Note the severity and functional impact (e.g., inability to use stairs, visit tall buildings)
•Verify this is a phobic disorder rather than normal caution about heights

Clinical Significance

Acrophobia is a specific phobia involving intense fear of heights. It is one of the most common specific phobias and can range from fear of extreme heights to inability to climb stairs or use escalators. The phobia can significantly impact daily functioning and occupational capacity, particularly for individuals whose work involves elevated positions.

Documentation Requirements

✓Marked fear or anxiety specifically about heights
✓Disproportionate fear relative to actual danger in the height-related situation
✓Consistent anxiety response when encountering heights
✓Avoidance behaviors and functional impact (occupational, social, daily activities)
✓Duration of 6+ months
✓Current treatment if applicable

Commonly Confused Codes

F40.248 (Other situational type phobia) — Use the specific acrophobia code F40.241 rather than the general situational category F40.228 (Other natural environment type phobia) — Acrophobia is classified as situational, not natural environment, in ICD-10-CM F40.240 (Claustrophobia) — Both are situational phobias but involve different stimuli; they can coexist R42 (Dizziness and giddiness) — Vertigo symptoms at heights should be distinguished from height phobia

Code Hierarchy

└F40Phobic anxiety disorders └F40.2Specific (isolated) phobias └F40.24Situational type phobia └F40.241Acrophobia

└F40.241Acrophobia