What is ICD-10 code F29?

F29 is the ICD-10-CM code for Unspecified psychosis not due to a substance or known physiological condition. The FY2027 tabular list includes "Psychosis NOS" and "Unspecified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder", the DSM-5-TR term, under it. It is used when psychosis is present but a specific psychotic disorder has not been established.

Is F29 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

Yes, F29 is a billable code in the FY2027 ICD-10-CM code set (effective October 1, 2026). It is a three-character code with no subdivisions. It closes the F20 to F29 block (Schizophrenia, schizotypal, delusional, and other non-mood psychotic disorders).

When should F29 be used?

The ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines say codes titled "unspecified" are for use when the information in the medical record is insufficient to assign a more specific code. F29 fits early in an evaluation, such as a first presentation of psychosis, when symptoms are clear but their duration, course, or pattern does not yet support a code such as F20.9, F23, or F25.-.

What is the difference between F29 and F28?

Under the official guidelines, "other" codes are for when the record gives detail for which no specific code exists, while "unspecified" codes are for when the record lacks detail. F28 (Other psychotic disorder not due to a substance or known physiological condition) is for a documented psychotic presentation that has no specific code. F29 is for psychosis documented without that detail.

What is the difference between F29 and F20.9 (schizophrenia, unspecified)?

F20.9 records a schizophrenia diagnosis whose subtype is not specified. Schizophrenia requires continuous signs of the illness for at least 6 months and is typically diagnosed by excluding other causes. F29 is used before a specific diagnosis such as schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder (F20.81), or brief psychotic disorder (F23) can be made.

What are the symptoms of psychosis?

Psychosis involves some loss of contact with reality. Symptoms include delusions (fixed false beliefs, such as believing others want to cause harm), hallucinations (seeing or hearing things others do not), and incoherent or nonsensical speech or behaviour that does not fit the situation. Earlier changes can include suspiciousness, trouble thinking clearly, social withdrawal, sleep disruption, and a drop in school or work performance.

What scale is used with F29?

There is no single screening test that diagnoses psychosis. Clinician-rated scales such as the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) measure the breadth and severity of symptoms and are useful for tracking change once care begins. Information from family, friends, teachers, and coworkers is often important to the evaluation.

What conditions can cause psychosis?

Psychosis can be a symptom of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe depression. Sleep deprivation, certain prescription medications, and misuse of alcohol or drugs can also cause it, and in older adults it can be linked to conditions such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. NIMH notes there is no single cause; it appears to result from a combination of genetic risk, differences in brain development, and exposure to stressors or trauma.

How is early psychosis treated?

Treatment usually includes antipsychotic medication. NIMH describes coordinated specialty care, a recovery-oriented team approach combining psychotherapy, family education, medication management, supported employment and education, and case management, as the standard of care for early psychosis. Earlier treatment is associated with better outcomes.

F29ICD-10-CMUnspecified Psychosis, Not Due to a Substance or Known Physiological Condition

Official ICD-10-CM descriptor: Unspecified psychosis not due to a substance or known physiological condition · Category header, not billable: use a more specific code

Psychotic symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech, documented without enough information to assign a specific psychotic disorder, and not attributed to a substance or a medical condition.

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Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)
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DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria summary

F29 is a residual code rather than a criteria set of its own. It is used when:

Psychotic symptoms are present: delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech and behaviour indicating loss of contact with reality.
The record does not yet support a specific psychotic disorder, such as schizophrenia (F20.-), schizophreniform disorder (F20.81), brief psychotic disorder (F23), or schizoaffective disorder (F25.-).
Substance and medical causes have been ruled out, by history, examination, laboratory tests, and neuroimaging.

The FY2027 ICD-10-CM tabular list includes "Unspecified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder", the DSM-5-TR category name, under F29. The ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines state that unspecified codes are acceptable when they most accurately reflect what is known at the encounter.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / National Center for Health Statistics. ICD-10-CM Tabular List and Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2027; Keshavan, M. S. (2025). Schizophrenia. Merck Manual Professional Edition.

Differential diagnosis

Schizophrenia (F20.-), continuous signs of illness for at least 6 months.
Schizophreniform Disorder (F20.81) and Brief Psychotic Disorder (F23), which differ from schizophrenia in extent and time course.
Schizoaffective Disorder (F25.-), a related psychotic disorder listed alongside schizophrenia.
Bipolar I Disorder (F31.-) and Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features (F32.3, F33.3), psychosis during a mood episode.
Substance/medication-induced psychotic disorder, coded with the substance-specific codes in F10 to F19.
Psychotic disorder due to another medical condition (F06.-), including neurological conditions in older adults.

Common comorbidities

Psychosis often occurs within mood disorders, and substance use, especially cannabis, can trigger psychotic symptoms in vulnerable people. Screen for depression, substance use, and suicide risk alongside the psychosis assessment, and code co-occurring conditions separately.

Documentation patterns

Initial visit: the psychotic symptoms observed, onset and duration so far, substance and medication history, the medical workup, collateral information, and why a specific diagnosis cannot yet be made.
Follow-up visits: track symptom severity with the same clinician-rated scale, and move to a specific code once duration and course support one.

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2026). ICD-10-CM Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries, FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026). https://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/Publications/ICD10CM/2027/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2026). ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2027, Sections I.A.9 and I.B.18.
National Institute of Mental Health. Understanding Psychosis. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/understanding-psychosis
Keshavan, M. S. (2025). Schizophrenia. Merck Manual Professional Edition.

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Frequently asked questions

What is ICD-10 code F29?
F29 is the ICD-10-CM code for Unspecified psychosis not due to a substance or known physiological condition. The FY2027 tabular list includes "Psychosis NOS" and "Unspecified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder", the DSM-5-TR term, under it. It is used when psychosis is present but a specific psychotic disorder has not been established.
Is F29 a billable ICD-10-CM code?
Yes, F29 is a billable code in the FY2027 ICD-10-CM code set (effective October 1, 2026). It is a three-character code with no subdivisions. It closes the F20 to F29 block (Schizophrenia, schizotypal, delusional, and other non-mood psychotic disorders).
When should F29 be used?
The ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines say codes titled "unspecified" are for use when the information in the medical record is insufficient to assign a more specific code. F29 fits early in an evaluation, such as a first presentation of psychosis, when symptoms are clear but their duration, course, or pattern does not yet support a code such as F20.9, F23, or F25.-.
What must be ruled out before coding F29?
Psychosis due to a medical condition or to substance use must be ruled out by history and examination, including laboratory tests and neuroimaging. As the code title says, F29 is not for psychosis due to a substance or known physiological condition; those use substance-induced or medical-condition codes. F29 also carries Excludes1 notes for mental disorder NOS (F99) and unspecified mental disorder due to known physiological condition (F09).
What is the difference between F29 and F28?
Under the official guidelines, "other" codes are for when the record gives detail for which no specific code exists, while "unspecified" codes are for when the record lacks detail. F28 (Other psychotic disorder not due to a substance or known physiological condition) is for a documented psychotic presentation that has no specific code. F29 is for psychosis documented without that detail.
What is the difference between F29 and F20.9 (schizophrenia, unspecified)?
F20.9 records a schizophrenia diagnosis whose subtype is not specified. Schizophrenia requires continuous signs of the illness for at least 6 months and is typically diagnosed by excluding other causes. F29 is used before a specific diagnosis such as schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder (F20.81), or brief psychotic disorder (F23) can be made.
What are the symptoms of psychosis?
Psychosis involves some loss of contact with reality. Symptoms include delusions (fixed false beliefs, such as believing others want to cause harm), hallucinations (seeing or hearing things others do not), and incoherent or nonsensical speech or behaviour that does not fit the situation. Earlier changes can include suspiciousness, trouble thinking clearly, social withdrawal, sleep disruption, and a drop in school or work performance.
What scale is used with F29?
There is no single screening test that diagnoses psychosis. Clinician-rated scales such as the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) measure the breadth and severity of symptoms and are useful for tracking change once care begins. Information from family, friends, teachers, and coworkers is often important to the evaluation.
What conditions can cause psychosis?
Psychosis can be a symptom of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe depression. Sleep deprivation, certain prescription medications, and misuse of alcohol or drugs can also cause it, and in older adults it can be linked to conditions such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. NIMH notes there is no single cause; it appears to result from a combination of genetic risk, differences in brain development, and exposure to stressors or trauma.
How is early psychosis treated?
Treatment usually includes antipsychotic medication. NIMH describes coordinated specialty care, a recovery-oriented team approach combining psychotherapy, family education, medication management, supported employment and education, and case management, as the standard of care for early psychosis. Earlier treatment is associated with better outcomes.