What is ICD-10 code F33.0?

F33.0 is the ICD-10-CM code for Major depressive disorder, recurrent, mild. It sits in category F33 (Major depressive disorder, recurrent). It is used when a client with at least one prior major depressive episode has a current episode of mild severity.

What does "mild" mean for F33.0?

DSM-5-TR rates a mild episode as having few, if any, symptoms beyond the number needed for the diagnosis, symptoms that are distressing but manageable, and minor impairment in functioning. The full criteria for a major depressive episode must still be met. Severity is a clinical judgement; the Merck Manual notes it rests on the degree of pain and disability and on the duration of symptoms.

What is the ICD-10 code for chronic depression?

The FY2027 ICD-10-CM index has no entry for "chronic depression". Long-lasting depression is usually persistent depressive disorder, coded F34.1 (Dysthymic disorder); the tabular list includes "Dysthymia" and "Persistent depressive disorder" under it. The Merck Manual classifies depressive symptoms that persist for 2 years or more without remission as persistent depressive disorder. Repeated separate episodes of major depression are coded in F33 by the severity of the current episode.

What is the difference between F33.0 and F32.0?

F32.0 codes a single (first) major depressive episode of mild severity. F33.0 codes recurrent major depressive disorder whose current episode is mild. Category F32 carries an Excludes1 note for recurrent depressive disorder (F33.-), so the two are never reported together.

What scale is used to screen for F33.0?

The PHQ-9 is the standard choice. In its validation study, a score of 10 or higher had 88% sensitivity and 88% specificity for major depression, and scores of 5, 10, 15, and 20 marked mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression (Kroenke et al., 2001). The PHQ-9 bands describe symptom severity; the F33 severity digit is the clinician's rating of the episode, so the two need not match.

What should be ruled out before coding F33.0?

Category F33 carries an Excludes1 note for bipolar disorder (F31.-) and manic episode (F30.-), so ask about past mania or hypomania before coding a recurrent depressive disorder. Also consider depression due to a medical condition (F06.3-), substance- or medication-induced depression, and whether the current low mood is a response to an identifiable stressor.

How is mild recurrent depression treated?

According to the Merck Manual, mild depression may be treated with general support and psychotherapy, while moderate to severe depression is treated with medication, psychotherapy, or both. Repeating the PHQ-9 over the course of care shows whether symptoms are moving below threshold or whether severity, and the code, has changed.

F33.0ICD-10-CMMajor Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Mild

Official ICD-10-CM descriptor: Major depressive disorder, recurrent, mild · Category header, not billable: use a more specific code

Recurrent major depressive disorder in which the current episode meets full criteria for a major depressive episode at mild severity, with at least one prior episode and no history of mania or hypomania.

F33.0 at a glance

ICD-10-CM F33.0
Depression
Category header, not billable: use a more specific code
Recommended screener
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
View scale
Billing the screening
In the US, administering and scoring the scale usually bills under CPT 96127; the session itself under 90791 or 90834/90837. Coverage varies by payer.

DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria summary

A diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent (F33.-) requires:

A current major depressive episode: five or more of nine symptoms present nearly every day during the same 2-week period, at least one of them depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure.
At least one prior major depressive episode, separated from the current one by at least 2 consecutive months in which criteria were not met.
Clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other functioning.
No history of a manic or hypomanic episode.
Not better explained by a substance, medication, another medical condition, or a psychotic disorder.

The fourth character records the severity of the current episode: F33.0 mild, F33.1 moderate, F33.2 severe without psychotic features, F33.3 severe with psychotic symptoms. F33.40 to F33.42 record remission. The FY2027 tabular list includes recurrent episodes of major depression, of reactive depression, and of seasonal affective disorder in category F33.

Source: Coryell, W. (2026). Depressive disorders. Merck Manual Professional Edition, summarizing DSM-5-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2022); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / National Center for Health Statistics. ICD-10-CM Tabular List, FY2027.

Differential diagnosis

Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Moderate (F33.1) and Severe (F33.2), when the current episode is more severe.
Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode (F32.0 to F32.5), when there has been no prior episode; see F32.1.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (F34.1), depressive symptoms lasting 2 years or more.
Depression, Unspecified (F32.A), when the record does not yet establish episode count or severity.
Bipolar I (F31.-) and Bipolar II (F31.81), excluded from F33 by an Excludes1 note.
Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood (F43.21), low mood in response to an identifiable stressor without a full major depressive episode.

Common comorbidities

Depression often co-occurs with anxiety and with substance use. Co-administer the GAD-7 with the PHQ-9, screen for alcohol use and suicide risk, and code each condition that meets criteria. See the PHQ-9 vs GAD-7 comparison for overlapping anxious-depressive presentations.

Documentation patterns

Initial visit: PHQ-9 score, symptom count and duration for the current episode, the dates of prior episodes and the gap between them, screening for past mania or hypomania, and the functional impact that supports the mild rating.
Follow-up visits: re-administer the PHQ-9 every few weeks during active care, and update the severity digit if the episode becomes moderate or severe, or move to an F33.4- code when it remits.

← All ICD-10 codesView Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) →Billing codes hub →

Measurement-based care

…starts with what we measure, and how long.

Send your first check-in today, with your own assessments and clients. For teams, we set up your assessments and schedules with you. Prefer a guided start? Book a demo on the next page.
Start
Everything in HiBoop, by workflow, and what shipped lately.Features
100+ validated measures, with scoring guides and sources.Assessments

Frequently asked questions

What is ICD-10 code F33.0?
F33.0 is the ICD-10-CM code for Major depressive disorder, recurrent, mild. It sits in category F33 (Major depressive disorder, recurrent). It is used when a client with at least one prior major depressive episode has a current episode of mild severity.
Is F33.0 a billable ICD-10-CM code?
Yes, F33.0 is a billable code in the FY2027 ICD-10-CM code set (effective October 1, 2026). The other billable F33 codes are F33.1 (moderate), F33.2 (severe without psychotic features), F33.3 (severe with psychotic symptoms), F33.40, F33.41, and F33.42 (in remission), F33.8 (other recurrent depressive disorders), and F33.9 (recurrent, unspecified). F33.4 is a category header and is not billed on its own.
What does "mild" mean for F33.0?
DSM-5-TR rates a mild episode as having few, if any, symptoms beyond the number needed for the diagnosis, symptoms that are distressing but manageable, and minor impairment in functioning. The full criteria for a major depressive episode must still be met. Severity is a clinical judgement; the Merck Manual notes it rests on the degree of pain and disability and on the duration of symptoms.
What is the ICD-10 code for chronic depression?
The FY2027 ICD-10-CM index has no entry for "chronic depression". Long-lasting depression is usually persistent depressive disorder, coded F34.1 (Dysthymic disorder); the tabular list includes "Dysthymia" and "Persistent depressive disorder" under it. The Merck Manual classifies depressive symptoms that persist for 2 years or more without remission as persistent depressive disorder. Repeated separate episodes of major depression are coded in F33 by the severity of the current episode.
What is the difference between F33.0 and F32.0?
F32.0 codes a single (first) major depressive episode of mild severity. F33.0 codes recurrent major depressive disorder whose current episode is mild. Category F32 carries an Excludes1 note for recurrent depressive disorder (F33.-), so the two are never reported together.
What scale is used to screen for F33.0?
The PHQ-9 is the standard choice. In its validation study, a score of 10 or higher had 88% sensitivity and 88% specificity for major depression, and scores of 5, 10, 15, and 20 marked mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression (Kroenke et al., 2001). The PHQ-9 bands describe symptom severity; the F33 severity digit is the clinician's rating of the episode, so the two need not match.
What should be ruled out before coding F33.0?
Category F33 carries an Excludes1 note for bipolar disorder (F31.-) and manic episode (F30.-), so ask about past mania or hypomania before coding a recurrent depressive disorder. Also consider depression due to a medical condition (F06.3-), substance- or medication-induced depression, and whether the current low mood is a response to an identifiable stressor.
How is mild recurrent depression treated?
According to the Merck Manual, mild depression may be treated with general support and psychotherapy, while moderate to severe depression is treated with medication, psychotherapy, or both. Repeating the PHQ-9 over the course of care shows whether symptoms are moving below threshold or whether severity, and the code, has changed.

Sources

1. 1.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).
2. 2.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2026). ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries, FY2027.
3. 3.American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR).
1. 4.Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. W. (2001). The PHQ-9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16(9), 606–613.
2. 5.Coryell, W. (2026). Depressive disorders. Merck Manual Professional Edition.