Subtypes and Specifiers
Pain Disorder is coded according to the subtype that best characterizes the factors involved in the etiology and maintenance of the pain:
307.80 Pain Disorder Associated With Psychological Factors. This subtype is used when psychological factors are judged to have the major role in the onset, severity, exacerbation, or maintenance of the pain. In this subtype, general medical conditions play either no role or a minimal role in the onset or maintenance of the pain. This subtype is not diagnosed if criteria for Somatization Disorder are met.
307.89 Pain Disorder Associated With Both Psychological Factors and a General Medical Condition. This subtype is used when both psychological factors and a general medical condition are judged to have important roles in the onset, severity, exacerbation, or maintenance of the pain. The anatomical site of the pain or associated general medical condition is coded on Axis III (see “Recording Procedures").
Pain Disorder Associated With a General Medical Condition. This subtype of Pain Disorder is not considered a mental disorder and is coded on Axis III. It is listed in this section to facilitate differential diagnosis. The pain results from a general medical condition, and psychological factors are judged to play either no role or a minimal role in the onset or maintenance of the pain. The ICD-9-CM code for this subtype is selected based on the location of the pain or the associated general medical condition if this has been established (see “Recording Procedures").
For Pain Disorder Associated With Psychological Factors and Pain Disorder Associated With Both Psychological Factors and a General Medical Condition, the following specifiers may be noted to indicate the duration of the pain:
Acute. This specifier is used if the duration of the pain is less than 6 months.
Chronic. This specifier is used if the duration of the pain is 6 months or longer.
