F41.1·ICD-10-CM

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a range of events or activities, that the person finds difficult to control and that causes clinically significant distress or impairment.

Recommended screener

Validated screener
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7)
View scale

DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria summary

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) requires the presence of:

  • Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (e.g., work or school performance).
  • The person finds it difficult to control the worry.
  • At least three of the following six symptoms (only one required in children): restlessness or feeling keyed up; being easily fatigued; difficulty concentrating; irritability; muscle tension; sleep disturbance.
  • The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning.
  • The disturbance is not attributable to a substance (e.g., drug of abuse, medication) or another medical condition.
  • The disturbance is not better explained by another mental disorder (e.g., panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, OCD, PTSD).

Source: American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), p. 250–252.

Differential diagnosis

Conditions to consider before settling on F41.1:

  • Panic Disorder (F41.0), recurrent unexpected panic attacks with persistent worry about additional attacks. Often comorbid with GAD; coded separately when both are present.
  • Social Anxiety Disorder (F40.10), anxiety specifically about social or performance situations.
  • Major Depressive Disorder (F33, F32), anxiety symptoms can be prominent in depression; if a depressive episode better explains the presentation, code MDD.
  • Substance/Medication-Induced Anxiety Disorder (F19.9 etc.), caffeine, stimulants, alcohol withdrawal, and others.
  • Anxiety Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition (F06.4), hyperthyroidism, pheochromocytoma, cardiac arrhythmias.
  • Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety (F43.22), anxiety in response to an identifiable stressor, lasting less than 6 months after the stressor ends.

Common comorbidities

Lifetime comorbidity rates for GAD are high. Common co-occurring conditions include Major Depressive Disorder (F33, F32), Panic Disorder (F41.0), Social Anxiety Disorder (F40.10), and Alcohol Use Disorder (F10.20). Comorbid presentations should be coded separately and screened with the appropriate validated scales (PHQ-9 for depression, AUDIT for alcohol use, etc.). See the PHQ-9 vs GAD-7 comparison for guidance on selecting between scales in overlapping anxious-depressive presentations.

Documentation patterns

  • Initial visit: GAD-7 score, brief symptom timeline (≥6 months), functional impairment statement, ruling-out items (substance, medical), provisional or confirmed F41.1.
  • Follow-up visits: GAD-7 re-administered every 2–4 weeks during active treatment. A 4-point reduction is considered a clinically meaningful change.
  • Comorbidities: PHQ-9 routinely co-administered to capture depressive comorbidity. Both codes recorded if criteria met.

Sources

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), F41.1, p. 250–252.
  • Spitzer, R. L., Kroenke, K., Williams, J. B. W., & Löwe, B. (2006). A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: The GAD-7. Archives of Internal Medicine, 166(10), 1092–1097.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ICD-10-CM Official Coding Guidelines.

Frequently asked questions

What is ICD-11 code F41.1?

F41.1 is the ICD-11-CM code for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. It denotes excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for at least six months, about a number of events or activities, that the person finds difficult to control and that causes clinically significant distress or impairment.

What are the diagnostic criteria for F41.1?

DSM-5-TR criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder require excessive anxiety and worry for at least 6 months, difficulty controlling the worry, and at least three of the following six symptoms: restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, or sleep disturbance. The symptoms must cause clinically significant distress or impairment and not be attributable to a substance, medication, or another medical/mental disorder.

What scale is used to screen for F41.1?

The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) is the standard screener. A GAD-7 score of 10 or higher has 89% sensitivity and 82% specificity for generalized anxiety disorder (Spitzer et al., 2006). Scores of 5–9 indicate mild, 10–14 moderate, and 15–21 severe anxiety. A positive screen warrants a full clinical evaluation.

What is the difference between F41.1 and F41.0 (Panic Disorder)?

F41.1 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) is characterized by chronic, pervasive worry across multiple domains. F41.0 (Panic Disorder) is characterized by recurrent unexpected panic attacks with at least one month of persistent concern about additional attacks or behavioral change. Many patients meet criteria for both; they are coded separately when present.

Is F41.1 the same as 'icd 10 code for anxiety'?

F41.1 is the most common ICD-11-CM code used for clinically significant generalized anxiety presentations. Other anxiety-spectrum codes include F41.0 (Panic Disorder), F41.9 (Anxiety disorder, unspecified), F40.10 (Social Anxiety Disorder), F42.2 (Mixed obsessional thoughts and acts), and F43.0 (Acute stress reaction). Coding selection depends on the predominant clinical presentation.

Is F41.1 a billable ICD-11-CM code?

Yes, F41.1 is a billable ICD-11-CM code as of the 2025 official tabular list. It is the most commonly reimbursed code for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and stands at maximum specificity in its hierarchy with no further fifth-character subdivisions. F41.1 is among the most frequently billed mental health codes in U.S. primary care.

What are the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder?

Generalized anxiety disorder produces excessive worry that is hard to control, occurring more days than not for at least six months. Core symptoms include restlessness or feeling keyed up, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance. Worry typically spans multiple areas such as work, finances, family, or health, and causes clinically significant distress or impairment. At least three of six physical symptoms (one in children) must be present alongside the chronic worry.

How is generalized anxiety disorder diagnosed?

Generalized anxiety disorder is diagnosed by a clinician using DSM-5-TR criteria, which require excessive worry on more days than not for at least six months plus at least three of six physical symptoms. Diagnosis typically follows a positive GAD-7 screen (cutoff 10 or higher), structured clinical interview, medical workup to rule out thyroid disease, cardiac arrhythmia, and substance-induced causes, and screening for comorbid depression and panic disorder.

What causes generalized anxiety disorder?

Generalized anxiety disorder arises from a combination of genetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors. Heritability estimates from twin studies range from 30% to 40%. Neurobiological contributors include heightened amygdala reactivity, altered serotonin, norepinephrine, and GABA signaling, and reduced prefrontal regulation of worry circuits. Environmental triggers include early-life adversity, chronic stress, parental anxiety, and major life transitions.

What is GAD?

GAD stands for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, the most common chronic anxiety condition in primary care. GAD is characterized by excessive, hard-to-control worry across multiple life domains lasting at least six months, plus physical symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance. ICD-11-CM codes GAD as F41.1, and the GAD-7 is the standard 7-item screening scale used in primary care and behavioral health.

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