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

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