Alcohol-induced persisting amnestic disorder

This code represents a chronic and irreversible memory impairment resulting from prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption. It is characterized by significant deficits in both short-term and long-term memory, without other global cognitive decline or delirium. The condition is also known as Korsakoff's psychosis.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a persistent amnestic syndrome directly attributable to alcohol use, often following an episode of Wernicke's encephalopathy. Supporting documentation should detail a history of chronic alcohol abuse, evidence of severe memory impairment, and the absence of other etiologies for the cognitive deficits.

• Differentiate from acute alcohol intoxication or withdrawal delirium, which are temporary states.
• Ensure documentation specifies "persisting" to distinguish from transient alcohol-related amnesia.
• Consider co-coding with codes for chronic alcoholism (e.g., 303.9x) to fully capture the patient's condition.