Altered Mental Status ICD 9 Code

An alteration in mental status usually refers to general changes in brain function, such as confusion, memory loss, loss of alertness, loss of orientation, defects in judgment or thought, unusual or strange behavior, poor regulation of emotions, and disruptions in perception, psychomotor skills, and behavior. Change in behavior can happen suddenly or over days.

Altered mental status represents number of psychiatric and emotional conditions, medical conditions and injuries that cause damage to the brain, including drug overdose and withdrawal syndromes, can also cause mental status changes. 

Altered mental status (AMS) comprises a group of clinical symptoms rather than a specific diagnosis, and includes cognitive disorders, attention disorders, arousal disorders, and decreased level of consciousness. Patient can suffer from slight confusion to total disorientation and increased sleepiness to coma.

Adults after changes in their medicines, heart attacks, or hip fractures, infections, such as urinary tract infections or pneumonia, are some factors that can  increase the risk for AMS. In addition, if a person has medical history of high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, or psychiatric illness, facing more risk to have AMS.

Altered Mental Status ICD 9 Code

Below you can find important information about AMS, its possible causes and the ICD code which is used to mention AMS. Keep reading.

Causes of AMS

AMS can be caused by variety of factors such as physical, psychological, and environmental factors. In some patients, it may caused by a combination of these factors. Following are some of the most common causes of AMS:

• Diseases or conditions in the body that can affect your brain and nervous system like Hypoxia,  in which oxygen level of patient is low
• Low or high blood sugar levels, or diabetic ketoacidosis
• Heart attack
• Dehydration, low or high blood sodium levels
• Thyroid or adrenal gland disease
• Urinary tract infection or renal failure
• Diseases or conditions within your skull like seizures, head traumas, concussions, brain tumors or strokes
• Brain disease, such as encephalopathy

Other common factors include:

• Burns
• Hypothermia (low body temperature), hyperthermia (high body temperature), or heat stroke
• Toxic plants, such as mushrooms
• Carbon monoxide
• Drug or alcohol withdrawal
• Psychiatric problems

Symptoms of AMS

Following symptoms are alarming and can be sign of AMS, if you notice them in you or in your near ones then take them seriously and consult a physician soon. A neurological exam tells caregivers if you are having problems with your brain or nerves. Symptoms include:

Noticeable changes in how you think and in your awareness, movements, and routines.

• Lack of concentration
• forgetfulness
• Slow responses
• changes in sleep patterns
• Decreased or increased movement
• Agitation or rambling speech
• Cannot be aroused from sleep

AMS’s Treatments

Treatment depends on the cause of patient’s AMS. Treatments with oxygen and medicines may be needed to improve your symptoms. You may be placed in the hospital if your symptoms are severe.

ICD 9 Code for Altered Mental Status

ICD 9 Code for altered mental status is 780.97. On converting it to ICD-10-CM, 780.97 converts approximately to ICD-10-CM R41.82 Altered mental status, unspecified

780.97 Excludes  altered level of consciousness (780.01-780.09)

Symptoms (780-789)

780 General symptoms

780.01 Coma

780.02 Transient alteration of awareness

780.03 Persistent vegetative state

780.09 Other alteration of consciousness

780.1   Hallucinations

780.2   Syncope and collapse

780.31 Febrile convulsions (simple), unspecified

780.32 Complex febrile convulsions

780.33 Post traumatic seizures

780.39 Other convulsions

780.4   Dizziness and giddiness

780.50 Sleep disturbance, unspecified

780.51 Insomnia with sleep apnea, unspecified

780.52 Insomnia, unspecified

780.53 Hypersomnia with sleep apnea, unspecified

780.54 Hypersomnia, unspecified

780.55 Disruption of 24 hour sleep wake cycle, unspecified

780.56 Dysfunctions associated with sleep stages or arousal from sleep

780.57 Unspecified sleep apnea

780.59 Other sleep disturbances

780.60 Fever, unspecified

780.61 Fever presenting with conditions classified elsewhere

780.62 Postprocedural fever

780.63 Postvaccination fever

780.64 Chills (without fever)

780.65 Hypothermia not associated with low environmental temperature

780.66 Febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction

780.71 Chronic fatigue syndrome

780.72 Functional quadriplegia

780.79 Other malaise and fatigue

780.8   Generalized hyperhidrosis

780.91 Fussy infant (baby)

780.92 Excessive crying of infant (baby)

780.93 Memory loss

780.94 Early satiety

780.95 Excessive crying of child, adolescent, or adult

780.96 Generalized pain

780.97 Altered mental status

780.99 Other general symptoms