ICD-10 Coding for Specific Phobia of Medical Procedures/Needles
No, F40.218 is not the correct code for needle phobia or fear of medical procedures. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry guidelines, the correct ICD-10 codes for medical-related specific phobias are more granular and specific 1.
Correct ICD-10 Codes for Medical Phobias
The proper coding depends on the specific type of medical fear 1:
- F40.231 - Fear of injections and transfusions (needle phobia/trypanophobia) 1
- F40.232 - Fear of other medical care (general medical procedure phobia) 1
- F40.230 - Fear of blood 1
- F40.233 - Fear of injury 1
F40.218 specifically refers to "Animal" type specific phobia, not medical procedures 1.
Clinical Application
When coding for needle phobia specifically, use F40.231 as this directly addresses fear of injections and transfusions 1. This is a clinically significant condition affecting at least 10% of the population and stems from an inherited vasovagal reflex triggered by needle puncture 2.
For broader medical procedure anxiety that extends beyond needles (such as fear of surgery, dental procedures, or other medical interventions), use F40.232 for fear of other medical care 1.
Common Coding Pitfalls
- Do not use F40.218, which is reserved for animal phobias within the specific phobia category 1
- Do not use F40.298 ("Other" specific phobia) when more specific medical phobia codes exist 1
- Ensure the phobia meets DSM-5 criteria: marked fear that is excessive, causes avoidance or intense distress, is out of proportion to actual danger, and causes clinically significant impairment 3
- The fear must persist for at least 6 months to qualify as a specific phobia rather than a transient fear 3