602 Neurocognitive Disorders
Other Specified Delirium
780.09 (R41.0)
This category applies to presentations in which symptoms characteristic of delirium that
cause clinically significant distress or impairm ent in social, occupational, or other impor-
tant areas of functioning predominate but do not meet the full criteria for delirium or any of
the disorders in the neurocognitive disorders diagnostic class. The other specified delirium
category is used in situations in which the clinician chooses to communicate the specific
reason that the presentation does not meet the criteria for delirium or any specific neuro-
cognitive disorder. This is done by recording “other specified delirium” followed by the spe-
cific reason (e.g., “attenuated delirium syndrome”).
An example of a presentation that can be specified using the “other specified” desig-
nation is the following:
Attenuated delirium syndrome:  This syndrome applies in cases of delirium in which
the severity of cognitive impairment falls short of that required for the diagnosis, or in
which some, but not all, diagnostic criteria for delirium are met.
Unspecified Delirium
780.09 (R41.0)
This category applies to presentations in which symptoms characteristic of delirium that
cause clinically significant distress or impairm ent in social, occupational, or other impor-
tant areas of functioning predominate but do not meet the full criteria for delirium or any of
the disorders in the neurocognitive disorder s diagnostic class. The unspecified delirium
category is used in situations in which the clinician chooses not to specify the reason that
the criteria are not met for delirium, and includes presentations for which there is insuffi-
cient information to make a more specific diagnosis (e.g., in emergency room settings).