Code: F60.3
Description: Borderline personality disorder
Context: This code is used for cases where a patient is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD), a mental health disorder characterized by pervasive instability in moods, behavior, self-image, and functioning, often leading to impulsive actions and unstable relationships.
Guidelines for Proper Use
- Specific Diagnosis of BPD: Use F60.3 for patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. This diagnosis should be based on a comprehensive psychological assessment, including a detailed evaluation of the patient’s history and current symptoms.
- Accurate Documentation: Ensure the healthcare provider’s documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, including characteristic features such as emotional instability, fear of abandonment, impulsive behavior, and intense interpersonal relationships.
- Exclusion of Other Personality Disorders: Do not use F60.3 for other types of personality disorders, such as antisocial, histrionic, or narcissistic personality disorders, which have their specific ICD-10 codes.
- Differentiating from Other Mental Health Conditions: Carefully distinguish BPD from other mental health disorders that may have overlapping symptoms but are distinct clinical entities, such as bipolar disorder or depression.
- Compliance with Diagnostic Criteria: Utilize F60.3 in accordance with established diagnostic criteria, such as those outlined in the DSM-5, and adhere to coding standards, including payer-specific requirements.
Common Misuses of F60.3
- Use for Transient Emotional Reactions: Misuse occurs when F60.3 is used for temporary emotional reactions or stress-related behaviors that do not meet the criteria for BPD.
- Confusion with Other Mental Health Disorders: Avoid using F60.3 for mental health conditions with some similar symptoms but different core features and diagnostic criteria.
- Application to Normal Personality Traits: Do not use F60.3 for normal variations in personality traits that do not significantly impair functioning or meet the clinical definition of a personality disorder.