F43.11
BillablePost-traumatic stress disorder, acute
HCC Category Mapping
RxHCCHCC 133 — Personality Disorders, Anxiety, and Other Specified Mental Disorders
0.000What This Code Means
Post-traumatic stress disorder that develops shortly after a traumatic event and typically lasts between 3 days and 3 months.
Coding Tips
- •Document the onset date relative to the traumatic event to confirm acute timing
- •Note when symptoms began and their duration to differentiate from chronic PTSD
Clinical Significance
Post-traumatic stress disorder, acute, specifies that PTSD symptoms have been present for less than 3 months. This specification is clinically important as acute PTSD has a different prognosis and treatment approach compared to chronic PTSD, with higher rates of spontaneous improvement. Early intervention during the acute phase can significantly improve outcomes.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documented exposure to a qualifying traumatic event
- ✓All four PTSD symptom clusters present: re-experiencing, avoidance, negative cognitions/mood, hyperarousal
- ✓Duration of symptoms greater than 1 month but less than 3 months
- ✓Onset related to identified traumatic event
- ✓Functional impairment documented
- ✓Current treatment plan including evidence-based trauma therapy
Commonly Confused Codes
F43.12 (Post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic) — Chronic PTSD requires symptoms lasting 3+ months; acute is less than 3 monthsF43.0 (Acute stress disorder) — Acute stress disorder is within 3 days to 1 month; acute PTSD is 1-3 months after traumaF43.10 (Post-traumatic stress disorder, unspecified) — Use F43.11 when documentation specifies the acute timeframeF43.22 (Adjustment disorder with anxiety) — Adjustment disorder has less severe symptoms and may not involve a qualifying trauma
Code Hierarchy
└F43Reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders└F43.1Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)└F43.11Post-traumatic stress disorder, acute
└F43.11Post-traumatic stress disorder, acute