does not meet the criteria for any specific mental disorder. This is done by recording “other
specified mental disorder” followed by the specific reason.
Unspecified Mental Disorder
300.9 (F99)
This category applies to presentations in which symptoms characteristic of a mental dis-
order that cause clinically significant distre ss or impairment in social, occupational, or oth-
er important areas of functioning predominate but do not meet the full criteria for any
mental disorder. The unspecified mental disorder category is used in situations in which
the clinician chooses not to specify the reason that the criteria are not met for a specific
mental disorder, and includes presentations for which there is insufficient information to
make a more specific diagnosis (e.g., in emergency room settings).