Which code would be used for a patient who has a personal history of abuse in childhood?

Which code would be used for a patient who has a personal history of abuse in childhood?

• A. Z63.0
• B. Z11.8
• C. Z62.819
• D. Z74.09

Answer: (C)

Documenting psychosocial history uses Z codes to capture factors that influence health. A personal history of abuse in childhood is written with a code in the Z62.8x family of codes, specifically the subcategory that denotes childhood abuse history. Z62.819 precisely identifies “Personal history of abuse in childhood,” signaling that the abuse occurred in the past and is part of the patient’s social history rather than an active event or a screening. The other codes don’t convey this specific past abuse history: one is for screening visits, another for different family relationship problems, and another for care-related issues. So, the measureable, precise way to document this history is Z62.819.

Documenting psychosocial history uses Z codes to capture factors that influence health. A personal history of abuse in childhood is written with a code in the Z62.8x family of codes, specifically the subcategory that denotes childhood abuse history. Z62.819 precisely identifies “Personal history of abuse in childhood,” signaling that the abuse occurred in the past and is part of the patient’s social history rather than an active event or a screening. The other codes don’t convey this specific past abuse history: one is for screening visits, another for different family relationship problems, and another for care-related issues. So, the measureable, precise way to document this history is Z62.819.