An alteration in mental status usually refers to
general changes in brain function, such as confusion, memory loss, loss of
alertness, loss of orientation, defects in judgment or thought, unusual or
strange behavior, poor regulation of emotions, and disruptions in perception,
psychomotor skills, and behavior. Change in behavior can happen suddenly or
over days.
Altered mental status represents number of
psychiatric and emotional conditions, medical conditions and injuries that
cause damage to the brain, including drug overdose and withdrawal syndromes,
can also cause mental status changes. Altered
mental status (AMS) comprises a group of clinical symptoms rather than a
specific diagnosis, and includes cognitive disorders, attention disorders,
arousal disorders, and decreased level of consciousness. Patient can
suffer from slight confusion to total disorientation and increased sleepiness
to coma.
Adults after changes in their medicines, heart
attacks, or hip fractures, infections, such as urinary tract infections or
pneumonia, are some factors that can increase the risk for AMS. In addition, if a
person has medical history of high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, or
psychiatric illness, facing more risk to have AMS.
Altered
Mental Status ICD 9 Code
Below
you can find important information about AMS, its possible causes and the ICD
code which is used to mention AMS. Keep reading.
Causes of AMS
AMS can be caused by variety of factors such as
physical, psychological, and environmental factors. In some patients, it may caused
by a combination of these factors. Following are some of the most common causes
of AMS:
- Diseases or conditions in the body that can affect
your brain and nervous system like Hypoxia,
in which oxygen level of patient is low
- Low or high blood sugar levels, or diabetic
ketoacidosis
- Heart attack
- Dehydration, low or high blood sodium levels
- Thyroid or adrenal gland disease
- Urinary tract infection or renal failure
- Diseases or conditions within your skull like seizures,
head traumas, concussions, brain tumors or strokes
- Brain disease, such as encephalopathy
Other common factors include:
- Burns
- Hypothermia (low body temperature), hyperthermia
(high body temperature), or heat stroke
- Toxic plants, such as mushrooms
- Carbon monoxide
- Drug or alcohol withdrawal
- Psychiatric problems
Symptoms of AMS
Following symptoms are alarming and can be sign of
AMS, if you notice them in you or in your near ones then take them seriously
and consult a physician soon. A neurological exam tells caregivers if you are
having problems with your brain or nerves. Symptoms include:
- Noticeable changes in how you think and in your
awareness, movements, and routines.
- Lack of concentration
- forgetfulness
- Slow responses
- changes in sleep patterns
- Decreased or increased movement
- Agitation or rambling speech
- Cannot be aroused from sleep
AMS’s Treatments
Treatment depends on the cause of patient’s AMS.
Treatments with oxygen and medicines may be needed to improve your symptoms.
You may be placed in the hospital if your symptoms are severe.
ICD
9 Code for Altered Mental Status
ICD
9 Code for altered mental status is 780.97. On converting it to ICD-10-CM, 780.97
converts approximately to ICD-10-CM R41.82 Altered mental status, unspecified
780.97 Excludes
altered level of consciousness (780.01-780.09)
Symptoms (780-789)
780 General symptoms
780.01 Coma
780.02 Transient
alteration of awareness
780.03 Persistent
vegetative state
780.09 Other
alteration of consciousness
780.1 Hallucinations
780.2 Syncope
and collapse
780.31 Febrile
convulsions (simple), unspecified
780.32 Complex
febrile convulsions
780.33 Post
traumatic seizures
780.39 Other
convulsions
780.4 Dizziness
and giddiness
780.50 Sleep
disturbance, unspecified
780.51 Insomnia
with sleep apnea, unspecified
780.52 Insomnia,
unspecified
780.53 Hypersomnia
with sleep apnea, unspecified
780.54 Hypersomnia,
unspecified
780.55 Disruption
of 24 hour sleep wake cycle, unspecified
780.56 Dysfunctions
associated with sleep stages or arousal from sleep
780.57 Unspecified
sleep apnea
780.59 Other
sleep disturbances
780.60 Fever,
unspecified
780.61 Fever
presenting with conditions classified elsewhere
780.62 Postprocedural
fever
780.63 Postvaccination
fever
780.64 Chills
(without fever)
780.65 Hypothermia
not associated with low environmental temperature
780.66 Febrile
nonhemolytic transfusion reaction
780.71 Chronic
fatigue syndrome
780.72 Functional
quadriplegia
780.79 Other
malaise and fatigue
780.8 Generalized
hyperhidrosis
780.91 Fussy
infant (baby)
780.92 Excessive
crying of infant (baby)
780.93 Memory
loss
780.94 Early
satiety
780.95 Excessive
crying of child, adolescent, or adult
780.96 Generalized
pain
780.97 Altered
mental status
780.99 Other
general symptoms