Mixed disturbance of conduct and emotions

This code represents a psychiatric disorder in children and adolescents characterized by a persistent pattern of disruptive, aggressive, or defiant behavior that violates the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms, combined with significant emotional symptoms such as anxiety, depression, or other mood disturbances. The emotional symptoms are not merely secondary to the conduct problems but are prominent and clinically significant.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a co-occurrence of both conduct disorder symptoms (e.g., aggression, destruction of property, deceitfulness, serious rule violations) and significant emotional symptoms (e.g., persistent sadness, excessive worry, irritability) that meet diagnostic criteria. This diagnosis requires a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation confirming the presence of both components.

• Ensure documentation specifies both conduct problems and prominent emotional symptoms; avoid using for isolated conduct disorder or mood disorders.
• Differentiate from codes for pure conduct disorders (e.g., 312.8x) or pure emotional disorders (e.g., 309.x, 313.x) where one component is not clinically significant.
• 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 of treatment.