Slowness and poor responsiveness

This code describes a patient presenting with a generalized reduction in the speed of physical and mental reactions, often manifesting as delayed responses to stimuli or a noticeable decrease in overall activity level. It indicates a state of diminished alertness and reactivity that is not as profound as stupor or coma.

Use this code when documentation indicates a patient exhibits generalized psychomotor retardation, sluggishness, or a noticeable delay in processing information and responding. This can be observed in various conditions, including medication side effects, metabolic disturbances, or early stages of neurological decline, where the patient is still arousable but significantly slowed.

• Differentiate from R40.1 (stupor) which implies a deeper state of unresponsiveness where the patient can only be aroused by vigorous and repeated stimuli.
• Always seek to code the underlying cause of the slowness and poor responsiveness if known and documented. This code is typically a symptom code.
• Ensure documentation clearly distinguishes this generalized slowness from specific motor deficits (e.g., paresis, paralysis) or cognitive impairments (e.g., dementia with specific cognitive deficits).