V-Codes

Used to diagnose conditions or problems that may be the focus of clinical attention but are not mental disorders!

Suicidal Behavior

Potentially self-injurious behavior with at least some intent to die

Nonsuicidal Self-injury

Intentional self-inflicted damage in the absence of suicidal intent

Abuse and neglect

Child (suspected or confirmed) physical, sexual, neglect, psychological abuse, encounter for mental health services for abuse, personal history of abuse

Adult (suspected or confirmed) partner violence, sexual, neglect, psychological; nonpartner abuse, sexual, neglect, psychological; encounter for mental health services, personal history of abuse

Relational Problems

Parent-Child (biological, adopted, foster, other caregiver); sibling, spousal or partner

Family environment: upbringing away from parents, parental relationship distress, disruption of family by separation, high expressed emotion level within family

Educational Problems

Illiteracy or low-level literacy, unavailable schooling, failed school examinations, underachievement in school, educational maladjustment and discord with school mates, inadequate teaching, etc.

Occupational Problems

Current military deployment status, unemployment, change of job, threat of job loss, stressful work schedule, discord with boss or workmates, uncongenial work environment, physical or mental strain, sexual harassment on the job, etc.

Housing Problems

(Un)sheltered homelessness, Inadequate housing, discord with neighbor or landlord, residential institution issues, etc.

Economic Problems

Food insecurity, lack of safe drinking water, extreme poverty, low income, insufficient health insurance, insufficient welfare support, etc.

Social Environment Problems

Living alone, acculturation difficulty, social exclusion or rejection, target of (perceived) adverse discrimination or persecution, etc.

Interaction with the Legal System

Conviction in criminal proceedings without imprisonment, imprisonment or other incarceration, issues related to release from prison, issues related to other legal circumstances, etc.

Psychosocial, Personal, and Environmental Circumstances

Lifestyle issues, unwanted pregnancy, multiparity issues, discord with social services, victim of crime, victim or terrorism or torture, exposure to disaster or war

Problems Related to Access to Health Care

Unavailability of health care facilities, unavailability of other helping agencies

Circumstances of Personal History

Psychological trauma, military deployment

Health Service Encounters for Counseling and Medical Advice

Genetic counseling, sex counseling, dietary counseling, etc.

Additional V-Codes

Wandering associated w/ mental disorder (excluding those wanting to escape housing situation or walking as a result of medication-induced akathisia)

Uncomplicated bereavement (normal reaction to death of loved one and distinguishable from MDD and prolonged grief disorder)

Phase of life problem (life-cycle transition)

Moral, religious, or spiritual problem

Adult antisocial behavior (not attributable to a mental disorder, usually professional criminals)

Child or adolescent antisocial behavior (not attributable to a mental disorder, isolated antisocial acts)

Nonadherence to medical treatment

Overweight or obesity

Malingering (especially if medicolegal context, discrepancy between claimed stress and objective observations, lack of cooperation, presence of antisocial personality disorder)

Age-related cognitive decline

Borderling intellectual functioning

Impairing emotional outbursts