6D84

Dementia due to psychoactive substances including medications

Description

Dementia due to psychoactive substances including medications includes forms of dementia that are judged to be a direct consequence of substance use and that persist beyond the usual duration of action or withdrawal syndrome associated with the substance. The amount and duration of substance use must be sufficient to produce the cognitive impairment. The cognitive impairment is not better accounted for by a disorder that is not induced by substances such as a dementia due to another medical condition. [1]

Diagnostic requirements

WHO clinical descriptions and diagnostic requirements [1,2].

All diagnostic requirements for Dementia are met.
There is evidence from history, physical examination, or laboratory findings that Dementia is caused by the direct physiological consequences of use of a substance or medication that persists beyond the usual duration of substance intoxication or withdrawal.
This judgment depends on establishing that:
- The substance or medication and the amount and duration of its use is known to be capable of producing Dementia; and
- The course of the Dementia (e.g., onset, trajectory of symptoms, response to treatment) is consistent with that caused by the substance or medication.
Specific substances are known to be capable of producing Dementia. If the specific substance inducing the Dementia has been identified, the corresponding diagnostic category should be assigned:
6D84.0 Dementia Due to Use of Alcohol 6D84.1 Dementia Due to Use of Sedatives, Hypnotic or Anxiolytics 6D84.2 Dementia Due to Use of Volatile Inhalants 6D84.Y Dementia Due to Other Specified Psychoactive Substance

Note: A diagnosis corresponding to the pattern of use of the relevant psychoactive substance (i.e., Harmful Pattern of Psychoactive Substance Use, Substance Dependence) may also be assigned.

For presentations characterized by marked impairment in two or more cognitive domains relative to that expected given the individual’s age and general premorbid level of neurocognitive functioning that is caused by the direct physiological consequences of one or more psychoactive substances or medications other than alcohol; sedatives, hypnotics or anxiolytics; or volatile inhalants, the following diagnosis may be appropriate:

6D84.Y Dementia Due to Other Specified Psychoactive Substance

All diagnostic requirements for Dementia are met.
There is evidence from history, physical examination, or laboratory findings that the Dementia is caused by the direct physiological consequences of use of one or more psychoactive substances or medications other than alcohol; sedatives, hypnotics or anxiolytics; or volatile inhalants.
This judgment depends on establishing that:
- The amount and duration of use of the relevant psychoactive substance(s) or medication(s) is known to be capable of producing Dementia; and
- The course of the Dementia (e.g., onset, trajectory of symptoms) is consistent with causation by the relevant psychoactive substance(s) or medication(s).

Subcategories

6D84.0 Dementia due to use of alcohol

Dementia due to use of alcohol is characterised by the development of persistent cognitive impairments (e.g., memory problems, language impairment, and an inability to perform complex motor tasks) that meet the definitional requirements of Dementia that are judged to be a direct consequence of alcohol use and that persist beyond the usual duration of alcohol intoxication or acute withdrawal. The intensity and duration of alcohol use must have been sufficient to produce the cognitive impairment. The cognitive impairment is not better accounted for by a disorder or disease that is not induced by alcohol such as a dementia due to another disorder or disease classified elsewhere. [1]
- All diagnostic requirements for Dementia are met.
- There is evidence from history, physical examination, or laboratory findings that the Dementia is caused by the direct physiological consequences of use of alcohol.
- This judgment depends on establishing that:
  - The amount and duration of alcohol use is known to be capable of producing Dementia; and
  - The course of the Dementia (e.g., onset, trajectory of symptoms) is consistent with causation by alcohol.
6D84.1 Dementia due to use of sedatives, hypnotics or anxiolytics

Dementia due to use of sedatives, hypnotics or anxiolytics is characterised by the development of persistent cognitive impairments (e.g., memory problems, language impairment, and an inability to perform complex motor tasks) that meet the definitional requirements of Dementia that are judged to be a direct consequence of sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic use and that persist beyond the usual duration of action or withdrawal syndrome associated with the substance. The amount and duration of sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic use must be sufficient to produce the cognitive impairment. The cognitive impairment is not better accounted for by a disorder that is not induced by sedatives, hypnotics, or anxiolytics such as a dementia due to another medical condition. [1]
- All diagnostic requirements for Dementia are met.
- There is evidence from history, physical examination, or laboratory findings that the Dementia is caused by the direct physiological consequences of the use of one or more sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic substances or medications.
- This judgment depends on establishing that:
  - The amount and duration of use of the relevant sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic substance(s) or medication(s) is known to be capable of producing Dementia; and
  - The course of the Dementia (e.g., onset, trajectory of symptoms) is consistent with causation by sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic substances or medications.
6D84.2 Dementia due to use of volatile inhalants

Dementia due to use of volatile inhalants is characterised by the development of persistent cognitive impairments (e.g., memory problems, language impairment, and an inability to perform complex motor tasks) that meet the definitional requirements of Dementia that are judged to be a direct consequence of inhalant use or exposure and that persist beyond the usual duration of action or withdrawal syndrome associated with the substance. The amount and duration of inhalant use or exposure must be sufficient to be capable of producing the cognitive impairment. The cognitive impairment is not better accounted for by a disorder that is not induced by volatile inhalants such as a dementia due to another medical condition. [1]
- All diagnostic requirements for Dementia are met.
- There is evidence from history, physical examination, or laboratory findings that Dementia is caused by the direct physiological consequences of the use of volatile inhalants.
- This judgment depends on establishing that:
  - The amount and duration of volatile inhalant use is known to be capable of producing Dementia; and
  - The course of the Dementia (e.g., onset, trajectory of symptoms) is consistent with causation by volatile inhalants.

Coded elsewhere

Dementia due to exposure to heavy metals or other toxins (6D85.2)

References

World Health Organization. International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision, for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics (ICD-11 MMS), 2026-01 release. World Health Organization; 2026.
World Health Organization. Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Requirements for ICD-11 Mental, Behavioural or Neurodevelopmental Disorders (CDDR). World Health Organization; 2024.

WHO text reproduced without changes from the WHO ICD-11 API. © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO. View this entry in the WHO ICD-11 browser.