Alcohol abuse with withdrawal with perceptual disturbance

This code signifies a pattern of problematic alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, specifically characterized by the presence of withdrawal symptoms that include hallucinations, illusions, or other sensory distortions. This condition indicates a more severe form of alcohol withdrawal, where the patient experiences altered perceptions in addition to typical withdrawal symptoms.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of alcohol abuse and the patient is experiencing withdrawal symptoms that involve perceptual disturbances such as visual or auditory hallucinations. This code is appropriate when the provider explicitly links the perceptual disturbances to the alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

• Ensure documentation differentiates between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence, as withdrawal with perceptual disturbance can occur in both, but this code is specific to abuse.
• Verify that the perceptual disturbances are directly attributed to alcohol withdrawal and not to another co-occurring mental health condition or substance.
• Consider sequencing this code as a primary diagnosis when it is the main reason for the encounter, or as a secondary diagnosis if another condition is the primary focus but the alcohol abuse with withdrawal is actively managed.