• Print

This section provides a list of codes used to define ‘mental health-related’ general practice encounters from the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) database (as used in the general practice section) and ‘mental health-related’ hospital separations from the National Hospital Morbidity Database (as used in the Ambulatory-equivalent and Admitted patient sections).

BEACH survey of general practice activity data

For the purpose of this report, ‘mental health-related’ general practice encounters are defined as those encounters where a mental health-related problem was managed. Mental health-related problems are those that are classified in the psychological chapter (that is, the ‘P’ chapter) of the International Classification of Primary Care, 2nd edition (ICPC-2). In the great majority of cases the codes appearing in the diagnosis or problem fields of the BEACH survey form are those listed here under the ‘Problems managed’ heading. Occasionally a code more relevant to treatments or referrals has appeared. These cases (accounting for less than 3% of all mental health-related problems managed in BEACH in 2010–11) are still counted as ‘mental health-related’ general practice encounters for the purpose of the report, in particular the estimates in Table 2.1.

For treatments and referrals, codes that are classified in the psychological chapter of the ICPC-2 PLUS have been used as these enable greater specificity in coding.

For medications, Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification codes (WHO 2011) have been used, where the medication falls into one of four groups.

The following table presents a list of the ICPC-2, ICPC-2 PLUS and ATC codes classed as ‘psychological’ for problems managed, treatments, referrals and medications.

ICPC-2, ICIPC-2 PLUS and ATC codes classified as psychological for problems managed, treatments, referrals and medications in the BEACH database, 2010–11

ICPC-2 code 

ICPC-2 PLUS code 

ATC code 

ICPC-2/ICPC-2 PLUS/ATC label 

Problems managed 

P01

    

Feeling anxious/nervous/tense

P02

    

Acute stress reaction

P03

    

Feeling depressed

P04

    

Feeling/behaving irritable/angry

P05

    

Senility, feeling/behaving old

P06

    

Sleep disturbance

P07

    

Sexual desire reduced

P08

    

Sexual fulfilment reduced

P09

    

Concern about sexual preference

P10

    

Stammering, stuttering, tics

P11

    

Eating problems in children

P12

    

Bed-wetting, enuresis

P13

    

Encopresis/bowel training problem

P15

    

Chronic alcohol abuse

P16

    

Acute alcohol abuse

P17

    

Tobacco abuse

P18

    

Medication abuse

P19

    

Drug abuse

P20

    

Memory disturbance

P22

    

Child behaviour symptom/complaint

P23

    

Adolescent behaviour symptom/complaint

P24

    

Specific learning problem

P25

    

Phase of life problem in adult

P27

    

Fear of mental disorder

P28

    

Limited function/disability psychological

P29

    

Psychological symptom/complaint, other

P70

    

Dementia (including senile, Alzheimer’s)

P71

    

Organic psychoses, other

P72

    

Schizophrenia

P73

    

Affective psychoses

P74

    

Anxiety disorder/anxiety state

P75

    

Somatisation disorder

P76

    

Depressive disorder

P77

    

Suicide/suicide attempt

P78

    

Neurasthenia

P79

    

Phobia, compulsive disorder

P80

    

Personality disorder

P81

    

Hyperkinetic disorder

P82

    

Post-traumatic stress disorder

P85

    

Mental retardation

P86

    

Anorexia nervosa, bulimia

P98

    

Psychoses not otherwise specified/other

P99

    

Psychological disorders, other

Treatments, including counselling 

Check-ups

  
 

P30001

  

Exploration; psychological; complete
 

P30002

  

Check up; complete; psychological
 

P30003

  

Exam; complete; psychological
 

P31001

  

Exploration; psychological; partial
 

P31002

  

Check up; partial; psychological
 

P31003

  

Exam; partial; psychological
 

P31004

  

Exam; mental state
 

P31005

  

Monitoring; drug rehab

Tests and investigations

  
 

P34001

  

Test; blood; psychological
 

P34002

  

Test; lithium
 

P34003

  

Test; methadone
 

P35001

  

Test; urine; psychological
 

P38001

  

Test; other lab; psychological
 

P39001

  

Test; physical function; psychological
 

P41001

  

Radiology; diagnostic; psychological
 

P43001

  

Test; psychological
 

P43003

  

Procedures; diagnostic; psychological
 

P43004

  

Exam; mini mental state

Advice/counselling

  
 

P45001

  

Advice/education; psychological
 

P45002

  

Observe/wait; psychological
 

P45004

  

Advice/education; smoking
 

P45005

  

Advice/education; alcohol
 

P45006

  

Advice/education; illicit drugs
 

P45007

  

Advice/education; relaxation
 

P45008

  

Advice/education; lifestyle
 

P45009

  

Advice/education; sexuality
 

P45010

  

Advice/education; life stage
 

P45013

  

Anger management
 

P58001

  

Counselling; psychiatric
 

P58002

  

Psychotherapy
 

P58004

  

Counselling; psychological
 

P58005

  

Counselling; sexual; psychological
 

P58006

  

Counselling; individual; psychological
 

P58007

  

Counselling; bereavement
 

P58008

  

Counselling; smoking
 

P58009

  

Counselling; alcohol
 

P58010

  

Counselling; drug abuse
 

P58011

  

Counselling; relaxation
 

P58012

  

Counselling; life style
 

P58013

  

Counselling; anger
 

P58014

  

Counselling; self-esteem
 

P58015

  

Counselling; assertiveness
 

P58016

  

Counselling; life stage
 

P58017

  

Counselling; stress management
 

P58018

  

Therapy; group
 

P58019

  

Cognitive behavioural therapy
 

P58020

  

Rehabilitation; drug
 

P58021

  

Rehabilitation; alcohol
 

P58022

  

Counselling; body image

Therapeutic procedures

  
 

P59001

  

Therapeutic procedure; psychological
 

P59002

  

Therapy; electroconvulsive
 

P59003

  

Hypnosis/hypnotherapy
 

P59005

  

Therapy; relaxation

Other management

  
 

P42001

  

Electrical tracings; psychological
 

P46001

  

Consultation; other general practitioner/allied health professional; psychological
 

P46002

  

Consultation; primary care provider; psychological
 

P46003

  

Consultation; psychiatrist
 

P46004

  

Consultation; mental health worker
 

P47003

  

Consultation; psychiatrist
 

P48002

  

Discuss; patient reason for encounter; psychological
 

P49001

  

Preventive; procedure; psychological
 

P49002

  

Exchange; needle/syringe
 

P49003

  

Mental health plan
 

P50001

  

Medications; psychological
 

P50002

  

Medication; request; psychological
 

P50003

  

Medication; renew; psychological
 

P50004

  

Prescription; psychological
 

P50006

  

Injection; psychological
 

P60001

  

Test; result(s); psychological
 

P60002

  

Results; procedures; psychological
 

P62001

  

Administrative; psychological
 

P63001

  

Encounter; follow-up; psychological
 

P64002

  

Encounter; provider initiated; psychological
 

P69001

  

Encounter; other; psychological
 

P69002

  

Assist at operation; psychological

Referrals 
 

P66003

  

Referral; psychologist
 

P66004

  

Referral; counsellor
 

P66005

  

Referral; mental health team
 

P66006

  

Referral; drug & alcohol
 

P66007

  

Referral; hypnotherapy
 

P67002

  

Referral; psychiatrist
 

P67004

  

Referral; clinic; psychiatrist
 

P67005

  

Referral; hospital; psychiatrist
 

P67006

  

Referral; sleep clinic
 

P68003

  

Referral; needle/syringe exchange

Medications 
   

N05A

Antipsychotics
   

N05B

Anxiolytics
   

N05C

Hypnotics and sedatives
   

N06A

Antidepressants

ICPC-2      International Classification of Primary Care, 2nd edition 

National Hospital Morbidity Database data

Data from the National Hospital Morbidity Database (NHMD) is the source for the Ambulatory-equivalent and Admitted patient sections of this online report. The definition of the scope of each section is provided in the section’s introduction or data source. Key elements of these definitions depend on the ICD-10-AM diagnosis codes and the Australian Classification of Health Interventions (ACHI) procedure codes. The codes in-scope are listed below.

During the preparation of Mental health services in Australia 1999–00 (AIHW 2002), attention was given to ensuring that, for data on hospital separations from the NHMD, the definition of a ‘mental health-related diagnosis’ included all codes that were either clinically or statistically relevant to mental health. This definition was revised for Mental health services in Australia 2000–01 (AIHW 2003) to increase the accuracy of the data. More specifically, for the analyses of the 2000–01 National Hospital Morbidity data, a diagnosis was considered clinically relevant to mental health if:

  • it was included as a principal diagnosis defining Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Group Version 4.2 Major Diagnostic Categories (MDC) 19 (Mental diseases and disorders) and 20 (Alcohol/drug use and alcohol/drug induced organic mental disorders), or
  • it appeared to be specific for a mental health-related condition based on expert advice.

A diagnosis was defined as being statistically relevant to mental health if:

  • during 2000–01 there were more than 20 separations with specialised psychiatric care for that principal diagnosis at the 3-character level of ICD-10-AM or more than 10 at the 4-character level, or
  • over 50% of separations with that principal diagnosis included specialised psychiatric care.

This method was developed in consultation with the National Mental Health Working Group Information Strategy Committee (now called the Mental Health Information Strategy Subcommittee) and the Clinical Casemix Committee of Australia.

Certain codes were statistically relevant during 1999–00 but not in 2000–01; these were examined and included if over 50% of total separations over the 2 years included specialised psychiatric care.

For this edition of Mental health services in Australia, the same codes used for the analysis of the 2000–01 data have been used to define ‘mental health-related’ hospital separations in the Ambulatory-equivalent and Amitted patient care sections. However, updates have been made to incorporate changes in codes that have occurred as new editions of ICD-10-AM have been released.

The full list of codes used to define mental health-related hospital separations is shown in the following table.

 ICD-10-AM diagnosis codes used to define mental health-related hospital separations 

ICD-10-AM code 

Diagnosis 

MDC 19 

MDC 20 

Statistically relevant 

Apparently otherwise relevant 

F00

Dementia in Alzheimer’s disease

     

¦

F01

Vascular dementia

      

¦

F02

Dementia in other diseases classified elsewhere

    

¦

  

F03

Unspecified dementia

      

¦

F04

Organic amnesic syndrome, not induced by alcohol and other psychoactive substances

      

¦

F05

Delirium, not induced by alcohol and other psychoactive substances

      

¦

F06

Other mental disorders due to brain damage and dysfunction and to physical disease

    

¦

¦

F07

Personality and behavioural disorders due to brain disease, damage and dysfunction

    

¦

¦

F09

Unspecified organic or symptomatic mental disorder

    

¦

  

F10

Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol

  

¦

    

F11

Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of opioids

  

¦

    

F12

Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of cannabinoids

  

¦

¦

  

F13

Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of sedatives or hypnotics

  

¦

    

F14

Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of cocaine

  

¦

    

F15

Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of other stimulants, including caffeine

  

¦

¦

  

F16

Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of hallucinogens

  

¦

    

F17

Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of tobacco

  

¦

    

F18

Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of volatile solvents

  

¦

    

F19

Mental and behavioural disorders due to multiple drug use and use of other psychoactive substances

  

¦

¦

  

F20

Schizophrenia

¦

  

¦

  

F21

Schizotypal disorder

¦

  

¦

  

F22

Persistent delusional disorders

¦

  

¦

  

F23

Acute and transient psychotic disorders

¦

  

¦

  

F24

Induced delusional disorder

¦

  

¦

  

F25

Schizoaffective disorders

¦

  

¦

  

F28

Other non-organic psychotic disorders

¦

  

¦

  

F29

Unspecified non-organic psychosis

¦

  

¦

  

F30

Manic episode

¦

  

¦

  

F31

Bipolar affective disorder

¦

  

¦

  

F32

Depressive episode

¦

  

¦

  

F33

Recurrent depressive disorder

¦

  

¦

  

F34

Persistent mood (affective) disorders

¦

  

¦

  

F38

Other mood (affective) disorders

¦

  

¦

  

F39

Unspecified mood (affective) disorder

¦

  

¦

  

F40

Phobic anxiety disorders

¦

  

¦

  

F41

Other anxiety disorders

¦

      

F42

Obsessive–compulsive disorder

¦

  

¦

  

F43

Reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders

¦

  

¦

  

F44

Dissociative (conversion) disorders

¦

      

F45

Somatoform disorders

¦

      

F48

Other neurotic disorders

¦

      

F50

Eating disorders

¦

  

¦

  

F51

Non-organic sleep disorders

¦

      

F52(a) 

Sexual dysfunction, not caused by organic disorder or disease

¦

  

¦

¦

F53

Mental and behavioural disorders associated with the puerperium, not elsewhere classified

      

¦

F54

Psychological and behavioural factors associated with disorders or diseases classified elsewhere

¦

      

F55

Harmful use of non-dependence-producing substances

  

¦

  

¦

F59

Unspecified behavioural syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors

¦

      

F60

Specific personality disorders

¦

  

¦

  

F61

Mixed and other personality disorders

¦

  

¦

  

F62

Enduring personality changes, not attributable to brain damage and disease

¦

  

¦

  

F63

Habit and impulse disorders

¦

  

¦

  

F64

Gender identity disorders

¦

      

F65

Disorders of sexual preference

¦

  

¦

  

F66

Psychological and behavioural disorders associated with sexual development and orientation

¦

  

¦

  

F68

Other disorders of adult personality and behaviour

¦

  

¦

  

F69

Unspecified disorder of adult personality and behaviour

¦

      

F70

Mild mental retardation

    

¦

  

F71

Moderate mental retardation

      

¦

F72

Severe mental retardation

      

¦

F73

Profound mental retardation

      

¦

F78

Other mental retardation

      

¦

F79

Unspecified mental retardation

    

¦

  

F80

Specific developmental disorders of speech and language

¦

      

F81

Specific developmental disorders of scholastic skills

¦

      

F82

Specific developmental disorder of motor function

¦

      

F83

Mixed specific developmental disorders

¦

      

F84(b) 

Pervasive developmental disorders

¦

  

¦

  

F88

Other disorders of psychological development

¦

      

F89

Unspecified disorder of psychological development

¦

      

F90

Hyperkinetic disorders

¦

  

¦

  

F91

Conduct disorders

¦

  

¦

  

F92

Mixed disorders of conduct and emotions

¦

  

¦

  

F93

Emotional disorders with onset specific to childhood

¦

  

¦

  

F94

Disorders of social functioning with onset specific to childhood and adolescence

¦

      

F95

Tic disorders

¦

  

¦

  

F98(c) 

Other behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence

¦

  

¦

  

F99

Mental disorder, not otherwise specified

¦

      

G30.0

Alzheimer’s disease with early onset

    

¦

  

G30.1

Alzheimer’s disease with late onset

    

¦

  

G30.8

Other Alzheimer’s disease

      

¦

G30.9

Alzheimer’s disease, unspecified

      

¦

G47.0

Disorders initiating and maintaining sleep

¦

      

G47.1

Disorders excessive somnolence

¦

      

G47.2

Disorders of the sleep–wake schedule

¦

      

G47.8

Other sleep disorders

¦

      

G47.9

Sleep disorder, unspecified

¦

      

O99.3

Mental disorder nervous system pregnancy and birth

      

¦

R44.0

Auditory hallucinations

¦

      

R44.1

Visual hallucinations

      

¦

R44.2

Other hallucination

¦

      

R44.3

Hallucinations, unspecified

¦

      

R44.8

Other/not otherwise specified symptom involving general sensation perception

¦

      

R45.0

Nervousness

¦

      

R45.1

Restlessness and agitation

¦

      

R45.4

Irritability and anger

¦

      

R48.0

Dyslexia and alexia

¦

      

R48.1

Agnosia

¦

      

R48.2

Apraxia

¦

      

R48.8

Other and unspecified symbolic dysfunctions

¦

      

Z00.4

General psychiatric examination, not elsewhere classified

    

¦

  

 Z03.2

Observation for suspected mental and behavioural disorder

¦

  

¦

  

Z04.6

General psychiatric examination, requested by authority

    

¦

  

Z09.3

Follow-up examination after psychotherapy

     

¦

Z13.3

Special screening examination for mental and behavioural disorders

      

¦

Z50.2

Alcohol rehabilitation

      

¦

Z50.3

Drug rehabilitation

      

¦

Z54.3

Convalescence following psychotherapy

      

¦

Z61.9

Negative life event in childhood, unspecified

    

¦

  

Z63.1

Problems relationship w parents & in-laws

    

¦

  

Z63.8

Other spec problems related to prim support group

    

¦

  

Z63.9

Problem related to primary support group, unspecified

    

¦

  

Z65.8

Other specified problems related to psychosocial circumstances

    

¦

  

Z65.9

Problem related to unspecified psychosocial circumstances

      

¦

Z71.4

Counselling and surveillance for alcohol use disorder

      

¦

Z71.5

Counselling and surveillance for drug use disorder

      

¦

Z76.0

Issue of repeat prescription

    

¦

  

(a)     Excluding F52.5.
(b)     Excluding F84.2.
(c)     Excluding F98.5 and F98.6.

Procedures component of the definition of ambulatory-equivalent mental health-related separations

The full list of ACHI codes as part of the definition of ambulatory-equivalent mental health-related hospital separations is shown in the following table. If there is no procedure recorded, or only procedure(s) in this list, and other criteria as outlined in Section 5 are met, then the separation will be categorised as ambulatory-equivalent.

ACHI codes used as part of the definition of ambulatory equivalent mental health-related hospital separations 

Block code 

Procedure code 

Block or procedure label 

1822

All

Assessment of personal care and other activities of daily/independent living

1823

All

Mental, behavioural or psychosocial assessment

1867

All

Counselling or education relating to personal care and other activities of daily/independent living

1868

All

Psychosocial counselling

1869

All

Other counselling or education

1872

All

Alcohol and drug rehabilitation and detoxification

1873

All

Psychological/psychosocial therapies

1875

All

Skills training in relation to learning, knowledge and cognition

1878

All

Skills training for personal care and other activities of daily/independent living

1916

95550-01

Allied health intervention, social work

1916

95550-02

Allied health intervention, occupational therapy

1916

95550-10

Allied health intervention, psychology

 

References

AIHW 2002. Mental health services in Australia 1999–00. Mental health series no. 3. Cat. no. HSE 19. Canberra: AIHW. 

AIHW 2003. Mental health services in Australia 2000–01. Mental health series no. 4. Cat. no. HSE 24. Canberra: AIHW.  

WHO (World Health Organization) 2011. ATC: Structure and principles. Oslo: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology. Viewed June 2011, http://www.whocc.no/atc/structure_and_principles/
 .