Phencyclidine Intoxication

Diagnostic Criteria

A. Recent use of phencyclidine (or a pharmacologically similar substance).

B. Clinically significant problematic behavioral changes (e.g., belligerence, assaultiveness, impulsiveness, unpredictability, psychomotor agitation, impaired judgment) that developed during, or shortly after, phencyclidine use.

C. Within 1 hour, two (or more) of the following signs or symptoms:

Note: When the drug is smoked, “snorted,” or used intravenously, the onset may be particularly rapid.

1. Vertical or horizontal nystagmus.

2. Hypertension or tachycardia.

3. Numbness or diminished responsiveness to pain.

4. Ataxia.

5. Dysarthria.

6. Muscle rigidity.

7. Seizures or coma.

8. Hyperacusis.

D. The signs or symptoms are not attributable to another medical condition and are not better explained by another mental disorder, including intoxication with another substance.

Coding note: The ICD-10-CM code depends on whether there is a comorbid phencyclidine use disorder. If a mild phencyclidine use disorder is comorbid, the ICD-10-CM code is  F16.120, and if a moderate or severe phencyclidine use disorder is comorbid, the ICD-10-CM code is  F16.220. If there is no comorbid phencyclidine use disorder, then the ICD-10-CM code is  F16.920.

Note: In addition to the section “Functional Consequences of Phencyclidine Intoxication,” see the corresponding section in Phencyclidine Use Disorder.