F10.232 Alcohol dependence with withdrawal with perceptual disturbance

ICD-10-CM F10.232: Alcohol dependence with withdrawal with perceptual disturbance

ICD-10-CM code F10.232 represents alcohol dependence with withdrawal accompanied by perceptual disturbance. This code distinguishes itself from other withdrawal diagnoses by indicating hallucinations occurring while consciousness remains clear and reality testing stays intact. The condition arises within the broader category of alcohol-related disorders, specifically under alcohol dependence with withdrawal. 4 5

Plain-language overview

Code F10.232 identifies patients experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms accompanied by hallucinations, while their consciousness remains clear and reality testing stays intact. 4

What this code represents

F10.232 falls under the ICD-10-CM hierarchy of mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use, specifically within the F10.23 category for alcohol dependence with withdrawal. 5

The F10.23 category contains four specific withdrawal codes: F10.230 for uncomplicated cases, F10.231 for withdrawal with delirium, F10.232 for withdrawal with perceptual disturbance, and F10.239 for unspecified presentations. 4 5

Clinical context

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome occurs after abrupt cessation of heavy and constant drinking, and it can involve neuropsychiatric complications such as hallucinations that begin even while the person is continuing to use alcohol or after cessation of drinking. 1

Documentation considerations

Documentation supporting F10.232 must capture established alcohol dependence, a withdrawal syndrome following alcohol cessation or reduction, documented perceptual disturbances during withdrawal, clear timing between alcohol reduction and symptom emergence, and functional impairment. 4

Clear consciousness separates F10.232 from F10.231, because patients experiencing perceptual disturbances under F10.232 maintain awareness and recognize hallucinations as unreal. 4

If the medical record documents delirium tremens or withdrawal delirium, coders do not use the unspecified withdrawal code, which highlights the necessity of precise clinical distinction among withdrawal subtypes. 3

What the sources add

Clinical literature describes hallucinosis as a unique form of withdrawal-related psychosis, whereas coding references establish F10.232 as a specific billable diagnosis requiring intact insight and clear consciousness. 1 4

Clinical sources note that the revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale is the most commonly used scoring system for recognizing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, while coding sources detail the specific ICD-10-CM subcategories for documenting withdrawal severity. 1 2 3

Sources

1. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: mechanisms, manifestations, and management — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-26.
2. Bookshelf — ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-26.
3. ICD-10 Code for Alcohol dependence with withdrawal, unspecif — combinehealth.ai; accessed 2026-07-26.
4. F10.23: The Spectrum of Alcohol Withdrawal Severity — From Uncomplicated to Delirium and Seizures - Yung Sidekick — yung-sidekick.com; accessed 2026-07-26.
5. F10.239 - Alcohol dependence with withdrawal, unspecified | ICD-10-CM — unboundmedicine.com; accessed 2026-07-26.
6. F10.232 ICD-10-CM Code — Alcohol dependence with withdrawal with… — simplepractice.com; accessed 2026-07-26.