In the case study, which diagnosis code corresponds to the described condition?

In the case study, which diagnosis code corresponds to the described condition?

• A. F44.89
• B. F44.81
• C. F43.12
• D. F90.0

Answer: (B)

When selecting an ICD-10-CM code, the goal is to match the patient's exact presentation to the most specific code that describes that pattern. For dissociative disorders, there are several codes that distinguish different presentations, from memory loss to depersonalization, and there’s a distinct code for a dissociative presentation that has a specific descriptor. In this case, the description fits a dissociative disorder with a defined feature that maps to that particular dissociative code. It is the most precise choice because it captures the exact pattern the patient exhibits, rather than using a broader “other dissociative disorders” category or a completely different diagnosis. The other options describe different conditions or broader categories: one reflects PTSD-related symptoms, which require trauma exposure and PTSD criteria; another is unrelated ADHD. Those do not align with the described dissociative presentation, so they’re not as accurate as the specific dissociative code that matches the case.

When selecting an ICD-10-CM code, the goal is to match the patient's exact presentation to the most specific code that describes that pattern. For dissociative disorders, there are several codes that distinguish different presentations, from memory loss to depersonalization, and there’s a distinct code for a dissociative presentation that has a specific descriptor.

In this case, the description fits a dissociative disorder with a defined feature that maps to that particular dissociative code. It is the most precise choice because it captures the exact pattern the patient exhibits, rather than using a broader “other dissociative disorders” category or a completely different diagnosis.

The other options describe different conditions or broader categories: one reflects PTSD-related symptoms, which require trauma exposure and PTSD criteria; another is unrelated ADHD. Those do not align with the described dissociative presentation, so they’re not as accurate as the specific dissociative code that matches the case.