Psychiatry Abbreviations

This list collects 415 psychiatry abbreviations — mental health terms used in psychiatric assessments, care plans and reviews. Every entry shows the full form and a plain-English meaning. One abbreviation can appear in several specialty lists when it is genuinely used in more than one area, and abbreviations with more than one common meaning get a row for each meaning. Terms flagged ⚠ Error-prone are on recognised error-prone lists: write them out in full wherever possible.

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Abbreviation	Full form	What it means	Used in
1:1	one-to-one observation	Continuous dedicated staff watching one patient	Nursing Psychiatry
4-point restraints	four-point restraints	Limb restraints at four points in severe agitation	Nursing Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
4AT	4 A's test	Rapid delirium and cognition screening tool	Psychiatry Neurology Vitals & Assessment
5150	5150 hold (California)	California involuntary psychiatric hold code	Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
5150 hold eval	72-hour hold evaluation	Assessment period under an involuntary hold	Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
ABA	applied behavior analysis	Behaviour therapy using learning principles, often for autism	Psychiatry Pediatrics
ABAS	Adaptive Behavior Assessment System	Daily-living skills rating system	Psychiatry Pediatrics
ACE-III	Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III	Detailed bedside cognitive test	Neurology Psychiatry
ACEs	adverse childhood experiences	Potentially traumatic events occurring before age eighteen	Psychiatry Pediatrics
ACT	acceptance and commitment therapy	Therapy using acceptance and mindfulness toward personal values	Psychiatry
ACT	assertive community treatment	Team-based community care for severe mental illness	Psychiatry
active SI	active suicidal ideation	Thoughts of killing oneself	Psychiatry
AD	Alzheimer disease	Progressive brain disease causing memory loss and dementia	Neurology Psychiatry
AD8	AD8 dementia screening interview	Eight-question informant dementia screen	Neurology Psychiatry
ADAS-Cog	Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive	Cognition measure in dementia trials	Neurology Psychiatry
ADHD	attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder	Condition with inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity	Psychiatry Pediatrics
ADI-R	Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised	Parent interview for autism assessment	Pediatrics Psychiatry
adjustment	adjustment disorder (diagnosis)	Outsized reaction to a stressor — diagnosis	Psychiatry
ADOS	Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule	Structured autism assessment	Pediatrics Psychiatry
affect MSE	affect (mental status element)	Observed emotional expression	Psychiatry
agoraphobia	agoraphobia (diagnosis)	Fear of escape-difficult places — diagnosis	Psychiatry
AH	auditory hallucinations	Hearing sounds or voices that are not there	Psychiatry
AIMS exam	Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (exam)	Movement side-effect check — examination	Psychiatry Neurology
akathisia	akathisia (side-effect)	Inner restlessness from medicines — side-effect	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
AMS	altered mental status	Change in awareness, thinking or behaviour from usual	Neurology Psychiatry
AMTS	Abbreviated Mental Test Score	Short bedside test of memory and orientation	Neurology Psychiatry
amygdala	amygdala (anatomy)	Almond-shaped emotion center	Neurology Psychiatry
AN	anorexia nervosa	Eating disorder with restriction, low weight and fear of gaining	Psychiatry
ANC clozapine	absolute neutrophil count (clozapine monitoring)	White cell count gating clozapine supply	Psychiatry Laboratory
anti-NMDA	anti-NMDA receptor antibody	Antibody causing autoimmune encephalitis	Laboratory Neurology Psychiatry
appearance MSE	appearance (mental status element)	Observed presentation in the mental status exam	Psychiatry
ARBD	alcohol-related brain damage	Umbrella term for alcohol brain injury	Psychiatry Neurology
ARFID	avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder	Eating disorder with avoidance of food without body image concerns	Psychiatry Pediatrics
ASD	acute stress disorder	Short-term stress reaction in the month after trauma	Psychiatry
ASD	autism spectrum disorder	Developmental condition affecting communication and social interaction	Psychiatry Pediatrics
ASD trauma	acute stress disorder (trauma)	Early trauma reaction within a month	Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
ASPD	antisocial personality disorder	Personality pattern disregarding the rights of others	Psychiatry
ASRS	Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (screen)	Adult ADHD screen — screening	Psychiatry
atypical features	atypical features (specifier)	Depression specifier with mood reactivity and increased sleep	Psychiatry
AUD	alcohol use disorder	Problematic pattern of alcohol use	Psychiatry
AUDIT	Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test	Questionnaire screening for harmful alcohol use	Psychiatry General Medical
AUDIT-C	AUDIT-C (consumption screen)	Short alcohol screen — screening	Psychiatry
autism screening	autism-specific screening (18/24 month)	Toddler autism checks at set ages	Pediatrics Psychiatry
AvPD	avoidant personality disorder	Personality pattern of social inhibition and fear of rejection	Psychiatry
AWOL	absent without leave (patient)	Patient missing from a psychiatric or care unit	Nursing Psychiatry
AWS	alcohol withdrawal syndrome	Symptoms occurring when heavy drinking stops suddenly	Psychiatry
BAARS	Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale	Adult ADHD symptom scale	Psychiatry
BAC	blood alcohol concentration (measurement)	Alcohol level measurement	Psychiatry Laboratory
BAL	blood alcohol level (legal/clinical)	Measured alcohol concentration — clinical	Psychiatry Laboratory Emergency & Critical Care
Barnes	Barnes Akathisia Scale	Rating scale for restlessness side effects	Psychiatry
BASC	Behavior Assessment System for Children	Multi-rater child behavior system	Pediatrics Psychiatry
BD	bipolar disorder	Condition with episodes of mania and depression	Psychiatry
BD-I	bipolar I disorder	Bipolar disorder with full mania	Psychiatry
BD-II	bipolar II disorder	Bipolar disorder with hypomania and depression	Psychiatry
BDD	body dysmorphic disorder	Preoccupation with perceived flaws in appearance	Psychiatry
BDI	Beck Depression Inventory	Self-report questionnaire measuring depression symptoms	Psychiatry
BED	binge eating disorder	Eating disorder with repeated episodes of eating large amounts	Psychiatry
bed check	bed check (safety rounds)	Scheduled checks of resting patients	Nursing Psychiatry
BEHAVE-AD	Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer Disease scale	Dementia behavior rating scale	Neurology Psychiatry
Bender	Bender Gestalt Test	Copying-figures visual motor test	Psychiatry Neurology
Benzo	benzodiazepine	Sedative medicine class used for anxiety and seizures	Prescription & Medication Orders Psychiatry
BFCRS	Bush Francis Catatonia Rating Scale	Standard catatonia severity scale	Psychiatry Neurology
BN	bulimia nervosa	Eating disorder with binge eating and compensating behaviours	Psychiatry
body check	body checking (behavior)	Repeated appearance checking in eating disorders	Psychiatry
BPAD	bipolar affective disorder (term)	Bipolar disorder alternate name	Psychiatry
BPD	borderline personality disorder	Personality pattern with unstable relationships, self-image and emotions	Psychiatry
BPRS	Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale	General psychiatric symptom scale	Psychiatry
BRIEF	Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function	Executive function rating inventory	Psychiatry Pediatrics Neurology
brief psychotic	brief psychotic disorder (diagnosis)	Psychosis under one month	Psychiatry
BRIEF-A	BRIEF Adult Version	Adult executive function self-report	Psychiatry Neurology
bvFTD	behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia	Behavior-first frontotemporal dementia	Neurology Psychiatry
BZD	benzodiazepine	Sedative medicine class used for anxiety and seizures	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
C-SSRS	Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale	Standard suicide risk assessment scale	Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
CAARMS	Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States	Psychosis risk assessment interview	Psychiatry
CAARS	Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales	Adult ADHD rating scales	Psychiatry
CAGE	CAGE questionnaire	Four-question alcohol screening tool, from its questions' initials	Psychiatry General Medical
CALM	counseling on access to lethal means	Training approach reducing access to self-harm methods	Psychiatry
CAMS	Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality	Therapeutic framework for suicidal patients	Psychiatry
Capgras	Capgras delusion (impostor)	Belief a familiar person was replaced	Psychiatry Neurology
CAPS-5	Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale	Gold-standard PTSD interview	Psychiatry
CARS	Childhood Autism Rating Scale	Autism severity rating scale	Pediatrics Psychiatry
catatonia	catatonia (psych)	Motor-behavior syndrome with mutism or posturing — psychiatric	Psychiatry Neurology
CBCL	Child Behavior Checklist	Achenbach parent-report behavior scale	Pediatrics Psychiatry
CBT	cognitive behavioral therapy	Talking therapy linking thoughts, feelings and behaviours	Psychiatry
CBT-E	enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy (eating)	Transdiagnostic eating disorder therapy	Psychiatry
CBT-I	CBT for insomnia	Structured sleep therapy program	Psychiatry Neurology
CD	conduct disorder	Childhood pattern violating rules and the rights of others	Psychiatry Pediatrics
CDI	Children's Depression Inventory	Child depression self-report scale	Psychiatry Pediatrics
CDR	Clinical Dementia Rating	Dementia severity staging scale	Neurology Psychiatry
CDR-SB	Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes	Dementia severity total used in trials	Neurology Psychiatry
CDRS-R	Children's Depression Rating Scale Revised	Clinician-rated child depression scale	Psychiatry Pediatrics
CGI	Clinical Global Impression	Overall illness severity and improvement scale	Psychiatry
CHR	clinical high risk (psychosis)	At-risk state for developing psychosis	Psychiatry
CIWA	Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment	Score measuring alcohol withdrawal severity	Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
CIWA benzodiazepine	CIWA-B (benzodiazepine withdrawal)	Benzodiazepine withdrawal scale	Psychiatry
CIWA-Ar	Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol, Revised	Scale measuring severity of alcohol withdrawal	Psychiatry
clock draw	clock drawing test (cognitive)	Drawing task screening for cognitive problems	Neurology Psychiatry
clozapine REMS	clozapine REMS (monitoring program)	Mandatory blood monitoring program for clozapine	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
CMAI	Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory	Agitation measure in dementia care	Psychiatry Nursing
CMAI-SF	Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory Short Form	Brief agitation scale	Psychiatry Neurology
combined ADHD	combined presentation (ADHD)	Both attention and activity ADHD patterns	Pediatrics Psychiatry
Conners-3	Conners 3rd Edition (ADHD ratings)	ADHD rating scale edition	Pediatrics Psychiatry
conversion	conversion disorder (functional neurological)	Neurological symptoms from brain function change	Psychiatry Neurology
Cotard	Cotard delusion (nihilistic)	Belief of being dead or nonexistent	Psychiatry Neurology
COWS	Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale	Score measuring opioid withdrawal severity	Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
CPT therapy	cognitive processing therapy	Trauma therapy restructuring stuck thoughts	Psychiatry
CRAFFT	CRAFFT screening tool	Adolescent substance use screen	Pediatrics Psychiatry
CSC	coordinated specialty care (psychosis)	Team-based early psychosis care model	Psychiatry
CTE	chronic traumatic encephalopathy (concern)	Repetitive impact brain degeneration	Neurology Psychiatry
CUD	cannabis use disorder	Problematic pattern of cannabis use causing impairment	Psychiatry
CY-BOCS	Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale	Child OCD severity scale	Psychiatry Pediatrics
DAST	Drug Abuse Screening Test	Drug misuse questionnaire	Psychiatry
DBT	dialectical behavior therapy	Therapy teaching emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills	Psychiatry
delusional disorder	delusional disorder (diagnosis)	Fixed delusions without other psychosis — diagnosis	Psychiatry
depot	depot injection (antipsychotic)	Long-acting antipsychotic injection	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
DES	Dissociative Experiences Scale	Dissociation screening questionnaire	Psychiatry
DID	dissociative identity disorder	Condition with two or more distinct identity states	Psychiatry
digit span	digit span (cognitive)	Number repetition testing working memory	Neurology Psychiatry
discontinuation syndrome	antidepressant discontinuation syndrome	Withdrawal-like symptoms stopping antidepressants suddenly	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
DISCUS	Dyskinesia Identification System Condensed User Scale	Movement side-effect screening scale	Psychiatry Neurology
disorganization	disorganized symptoms (psychosis)	Thought and behavior disorganization group	Psychiatry
dissociative amnesia	dissociative amnesia (diagnosis)	Trauma-linked memory gaps	Psychiatry
DIVA	Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults	Structured adult ADHD interview	Psychiatry
DLB	dementia with Lewy bodies	Dementia with Lewy body deposits, fluctuations and hallucinations	Neurology Psychiatry
DLD	developmental language disorder	Persistent language learning difficulty	Pediatrics Neurology Psychiatry
DMDD	disruptive mood dysregulation disorder	Childhood condition with severe recurrent temper outbursts	Psychiatry Pediatrics
DMER	dysphoric milk ejection reflex	Brief negative feelings at milk release	Obstetrics & Gynecology Psychiatry Nursing
DPD	dependent personality disorder	Clinging submissive pattern	Psychiatry
DPDR	depersonalization/derealization disorder	Feeling detached from self or surroundings disorder	Psychiatry
DRS-R-98	Delirium Rating Scale Revised-98	Delirium severity scale	Psychiatry Neurology
DSED	disinhibited social engagement disorder	Over-familiar attachment after neglect	Psychiatry Pediatrics
DSM-5	Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition	Standard classification manual for mental disorders	Psychiatry
DTs	delirium tremens	Severe alcohol withdrawal with confusion, agitation and tremor	Psychiatry Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
DUP	duration of untreated psychosis	Delay before psychosis treatment	Psychiatry
dyscalculia	dyscalculia (math disorder)	Math learning disorder	Pediatrics Psychiatry
dysgraphia	dysgraphia (writing disorder)	Writing learning disorder	Pediatrics Psychiatry
dyslexia	dyslexia (reading disorder)	Word-reading learning disorder	Pediatrics Psychiatry Neurology
dystonia	acute dystonia (reaction)	Sudden muscle spasm drug reaction	Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders
eating disorders group	eating disorders (AN/BN/BED group)	Restrictive and binge eating condition group	Psychiatry Pediatrics
ECT	electroconvulsive therapy	Controlled electrical treatment given under anaesthesia	Neurology Psychiatry
ED	eating disorder	Condition involving disturbed eating and body image	Psychiatry
Edinburgh scale	Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale	Postpartum depression screening questionnaire	Psychiatry Obstetrics & Gynecology
eloped	eloped (left unnoticed)	Patient left the unit without staff knowledge	Nursing Psychiatry
elopement precautions	elopement precautions	Measures preventing a patient leaving unsafely	Nursing Psychiatry
EMDR	eye movement desensitization and reprocessing	Trauma therapy using guided eye movements while recalling memories	Psychiatry
encopresis	encopresis (soiling term)	Stool accidents from overflow constipation	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Psychiatry
enuresis	nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting)	Bedwetting — clinical	Pediatrics Renal & Nephrology Psychiatry
EPDS	Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (abbreviation)	Perinatal depression screen	Psychiatry Obstetrics & Gynecology
EPS	extrapyramidal symptoms	Movement side effects such as stiffness, tremor and restlessness	Psychiatry Neurology
erotomania	erotomania (delusional type)	Delusion of being loved	Psychiatry
esketamine	esketamine (Spravato class)	Nasal ketamine-derived antidepressant	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
excoriation	excoriation disorder (skin-picking)	Repetitive skin picking disorder	Psychiatry Pediatrics
exercise comp	compulsive exercise (behavior)	Driven exercise in eating disorders	Psychiatry
FAB	Frontal Assessment Battery	Brief frontal lobe bedside battery	Neurology Psychiatry
factitious	factitious disorder (imposed)	Faked illness for the sick role — diagnosis	Psychiatry
FAQ cog	Functional Activities Questionnaire (cognitive)	Informant rating of daily function in dementia	Neurology Psychiatry
FASD	fetal alcohol spectrum disorder	Range of effects from alcohol exposure before birth	Psychiatry Pediatrics
FAST	Functional Assessment Staging (dementia)	Alzheimer staging scale — dementia	Neurology Psychiatry
FAST scale	Functional Assessment Staging Tool	Functional staging in Alzheimer disease	Neurology Psychiatry
FBT	family-based treatment (Maudsley)	Parent-led eating disorder therapy	Psychiatry Pediatrics
FDIA	factitious disorder imposed on another	Caregiver fabricating a child's illness	Psychiatry Pediatrics
feeding aversion	feeding aversion (behavioral)	Refusal pattern from pressured or painful feeding	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Psychiatry
female athlete triad	female athlete triad (syndrome)	Low energy, period loss and bone loss in athletes	Psychiatry Endocrinology Obstetrics & Gynecology Musculoskeletal
FEP	first-episode psychosis	First presentation of psychotic illness	Psychiatry
FGA	first-generation antipsychotic	Older class of antipsychotic medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Psychiatry
FGA antipsychotic	first-generation antipsychotic (typical)	Older dopamine-blocking antipsychotic class	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
first rank	first-rank symptoms (Schneiderian)	Classic schizophrenia symptom set	Psychiatry
FND	functional neurological disorder	Real neurological symptoms without a structural disease cause	Neurology Psychiatry
food chaining	food chaining (therapy)	Gradual food expansion from accepted foods	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Psychiatry
fragile X	fragile X syndrome (genetic)	Commonest inherited intellectual disability	Pediatrics Neurology Psychiatry
Fregoli	Fregoli delusion (disguise)	Belief strangers are one familiar person in disguise	Psychiatry Neurology
FTD	frontotemporal dementia	Dementia mainly affecting behaviour, personality or language	Neurology Psychiatry
functional abdo	functional abdominal pain disorders (group)	Gut-brain pain conditions of childhood	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Psychiatry
GAD	generalized anxiety disorder	Persistent excessive worry about many things	Psychiatry
GAD-7	Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7	Seven-question anxiety severity scale	Psychiatry
GAF	Global Assessment of Functioning	Older global functioning score	Psychiatry
GDS	Global Deterioration Scale (dementia staging)	Seven-stage dementia scale — staging	Neurology Psychiatry
gesture	suicide gesture (older term)	Self-harm act judged low in lethal intent	Psychiatry
global delay	global developmental delay (term)	Delay across all developmental areas	Pediatrics Neurology Psychiatry
Go/No-Go	go/no-go test (impulsivity)	Response inhibition test	Neurology Psychiatry
GPCOG	General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition	Primary care cognitive screen	Neurology Psychiatry
HAM-A	Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale	Clinician-rated anxiety scale	Psychiatry
HAM-D	Hamilton Depression Rating Scale	Clinician-rated depression scale	Psychiatry
HD	hoarding disorder	Persistent difficulty discarding possessions, causing clutter	Psychiatry
HD	Huntington disease	Inherited brain disease causing movement, thinking and mood changes	Neurology Psychiatry
hepatic enceph	hepatic encephalopathy (psych presentation)	Confusion from liver failure presenting psychiatrically	Psychiatry Gastroenterology Neurology
HI	homicidal ideation	Thoughts about harming or killing another person	Psychiatry
hoarding	hoarding disorder (diagnosis)	Persistent discarding difficulty disorder	Psychiatry
HPD	histrionic personality disorder	Attention-seeking emotional pattern	Psychiatry
hyperactive ADHD	predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation (ADHD)	Activity-type ADHD pattern	Pediatrics Psychiatry
hyperactive delirium	hyperactive delirium (subtype)	Agitated delirium subtype	Neurology Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
hypoactive delirium	hypoactive delirium (subtype)	Quiet withdrawn delirium subtype	Neurology Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
IAD	illness anxiety disorder	Excessive worry about having a serious illness	Psychiatry
ID	intellectual disability	Condition with limited intellectual and adaptive functioning from development	Psychiatry Pediatrics
IED	intermittent explosive disorder	Repeated impulsive aggressive outbursts out of proportion	Psychiatry
IES-R	Impact of Event Scale Revised	Post-traumatic stress symptom scale	Psychiatry
illness anxiety	illness anxiety disorder (diagnosis)	Health worry with few symptoms — diagnosis	Psychiatry
inattentive ADHD	predominantly inattentive presentation (ADHD)	Attention-type ADHD pattern	Pediatrics Psychiatry
insight MSE	insight (mental status element)	Understanding of one's illness	Psychiatry
intent SI	suicidal intent (assessment element)	Determination to act on suicidal thoughts	Psychiatry
intox	intoxication (documentation shorthand)	Under the influence — documentation shorthand	Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
IPT	interpersonal psychotherapy	Therapy focused on relationships and life events	Psychiatry
IPT	interpersonal therapy	Relationship-focused depression therapy	Psychiatry
IQ	intelligence quotient	Standard score comparing thinking ability with peers	Psychiatry
IQCODE	Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline	Informant-based cognitive decline screen	Neurology Psychiatry
ISI	Insomnia Severity Index	Insomnia questionnaire	Psychiatry Neurology
IV ketamine	intravenous ketamine (depression treatment)	Infusion treatment for resistant depression	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
IVC	involuntary commitment	Court-ordered psychiatric hospitalization	Psychiatry
judgment MSE	judgment (mental status element)	Decision-making ability assessment	Psychiatry
KBIT	Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test	Short intelligence screen	Psychiatry Pediatrics
LAI	long-acting injectable	Medicine given by injection that works over weeks	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
LAI antipsychotic	long-acting injectable antipsychotic	Monthly schizophrenia maintenance injection	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
LD	learning disability	Difficulty learning in a specific area despite typical overall ability	Pediatrics Psychiatry
lethal means	lethal means (counseling)	Access to methods of self-harm addressed in counseling	Psychiatry
Li level	lithium level (monitoring)	Blood level check for lithium safety	Psychiatry Laboratory Prescription & Medication Orders
LPS	Lanterman-Petris-Short (hold law)	California mental health conservatorship law	Psychiatry
lvPPA	logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia	Word-finding pause dementia variant	Neurology Psychiatry
M-CHAT	Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers	Autism screening questionnaire	Pediatrics Psychiatry
M-CHAT-R	Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers Revised	Toddler autism screen revision	Pediatrics Psychiatry
MADRS	Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale	Clinician rating scale for depression severity	Psychiatry
malingering	malingering (documentation)	Faking illness for external gain — documentation	Psychiatry
MAOI	monoamine oxidase inhibitor	Antidepressant class blocking an enzyme breaking down brain chemicals	Prescription & Medication Orders Psychiatry
MASC	Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children	Child anxiety self-report scale	Psychiatry Pediatrics
MAT	medication-assisted treatment	Medicines combined with support to treat addiction	Prescription & Medication Orders Psychiatry
MCI	mild cognitive impairment	Noticeable thinking decline beyond normal ageing	Neurology Psychiatry
MCI subtypes	mild cognitive impairment (amnestic/non-amnestic)	Memory-type versus other-type MCI	Neurology Psychiatry
MCMI	Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory	Personality and syndrome inventory	Psychiatry
MDAS	Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale	Delirium severity rating scale	Psychiatry Neurology
MDD	major depressive disorder	Depression with persistent low mood and loss of interest	Psychiatry
MDE	major depressive episode	Period of major depression	Psychiatry
MDQ	Mood Disorder Questionnaire	Bipolar screening questionnaire	Psychiatry
meal support	meal support (eating disorder care)	Supervised meals and post-meal observation	Psychiatry Pediatrics Nursing
melancholic	melancholic features (specifier)	Depression specifier with loss of pleasure and early waking	Psychiatry
MI	motivational interviewing	Counselling style strengthening a person's own motivation to change	Psychiatry
Mini-Cog	Mini-Cog (screen)	Three-item recall plus clock screen — screening	Neurology Psychiatry
mixed delirium	mixed delirium (subtype)	Alternating quiet and agitated delirium	Neurology Psychiatry
mixed features	mixed features (specifier)	Manic and depressive symptoms together specifier	Psychiatry
MMPI	Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory	Comprehensive personality assessment	Psychiatry
MMPI-3	Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3	Current edition personality inventory	Psychiatry
MMSE	Mini-Mental State Examination	Bedside test of memory and thinking	Neurology Psychiatry Vitals & Assessment
MoCA	Montreal Cognitive Assessment	Screening test of memory and thinking	Neurology Psychiatry
MoCA-B	MoCA Basic (low literacy version)	Cognitive screen for low education	Neurology Psychiatry
mood MSE	mood (mental status element)	Patient-reported emotional state	Psychiatry
MOUD	medications for opioid use disorder	Medicines treating opioid dependence	Prescription & Medication Orders Psychiatry
MSE	mental state examination	Structured assessment of appearance, mood, thought and cognition	Psychiatry
Munchausen	Munchausen syndrome (factitious)	Classic name for self-imposed factitious illness	Psychiatry
muscle dysmorphia	muscle dysmorphia (bigorexia)	Belief of being too small in bodybuilding	Psychiatry
NaSSA	noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant	Mirtazapine's antidepressant class	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
NCD	neurocognitive disorder	Acquired decline in thinking from a medical or brain cause	Psychiatry Neurology
NDRI	norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor	Bupropion's antidepressant class	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
negative symptoms	negative symptoms (psychosis group)	Flat affect, poverty of speech and low drive group	Psychiatry
nfvPPA	nonfluent variant primary progressive aphasia	Effortful speech dementia variant	Neurology Psychiatry
NG feeds	nasogastric feeding (eating disorder care)	Tube feeding in eating disorder treatment	Psychiatry Pediatrics Nursing
NIAAA guide	NIAAA single alcohol screening question	Recommended one-question alcohol screen	Psychiatry General Medical
NMDAR ab	anti-NMDA receptor antibody	Autoimmune encephalitis antibody	Neurology Laboratory Psychiatry
NMS	neuroleptic malignant syndrome	Rare severe reaction with fever, rigidity and confusion	Psychiatry Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
no-harm contract	no-harm contract (older practice)	Agreement not to self-harm, now replaced by safety planning	Psychiatry
NOS	not otherwise specified (psych diagnosis suffix)	Diagnosis category suffix for atypical presentations	Psychiatry General Medical
NOWS	neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (diagnosis)	Newborn opioid withdrawal — diagnosis	Pediatrics Psychiatry Nursing
NPD	narcissistic personality disorder	Personality pattern of grandiosity and need for admiration	Psychiatry
NPI	Neuropsychiatric Inventory	Behavioral symptom scale in dementia	Psychiatry Neurology
NPI-Q	Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire	Brief dementia behavior symptom scale	Neurology Psychiatry
NSSI	nonsuicidal self-injury	Deliberate self-harm without intent to die	Psychiatry
OCD	obsessive-compulsive disorder	Condition with intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours	Psychiatry
OCPD	obsessive-compulsive personality disorder	Personality pattern of perfectionism and need for control	Psychiatry
OD	overdose (presentation)	Drug excess presentation — presentation	Emergency & Critical Care Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
ODD	oppositional defiant disorder	Childhood pattern of angry, defiant behaviour toward authority	Psychiatry Pediatrics
orthorexia	orthorexia (proposed term)	Unhealthy obsession with healthy eating	Psychiatry
OUD	opioid use disorder	Problematic pattern of opioid use	Psychiatry
P N E S	psychogenic nonepileptic events (term)	Preferred term for non-electrical seizure-like events	Neurology Psychiatry
PAI	Personality Assessment Inventory	Personality and psychopathology test	Psychiatry
PAINAD	Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (scale)	Observational pain scale — dementia	Neurology Nursing Psychiatry
PANDAS	pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus	Strep-linked abrupt OCD and tic hypothesis	Pediatrics Neurology Psychiatry Infectious Disease
panic	panic disorder (diagnosis)	Recurrent panic attacks — diagnosis	Psychiatry
PANS	pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome	Abrupt OCD and eating restriction syndrome	Pediatrics Psychiatry Neurology
PANSS	Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale	Schizophrenia symptom scale	Psychiatry
parasuicide	parasuicide (older term)	Deliberate self-harm regardless of intent	Psychiatry
PASAT	Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test	Attention and calculation test	Neurology Psychiatry
passive SI	passive suicidal ideation	Wishing to be dead without a plan	Psychiatry
PCL-5	PTSD Checklist for DSM-5	Twenty-question self-report scale for trauma symptoms	Psychiatry
PD	panic disorder	Condition with repeated unexpected panic attacks	Psychiatry
PDD	persistent depressive disorder	Long-lasting low-grade depression over years	Psychiatry
PE therapy	prolonged exposure (therapy)	Trauma therapy approaching feared memories	Psychiatry
perception MSE	perception (mental status element)	Hallucinations and illusions section	Psychiatry
personality disorders group	personality disorders (cluster A/B/C group)	Enduring personality pattern conditions	Psychiatry
PHQ-2	Patient Health Questionnaire-2	Two-question depression screening scale	Psychiatry
PHQ-9	Patient Health Questionnaire-9	Nine-question depression severity scale	Psychiatry
PHQ-9A	PHQ-9 modified for adolescents	Teen depression questionnaire version	Psychiatry Pediatrics
pica	pica (eating non-food)	Eating non-food items	Psychiatry Pediatrics
pica lead	pica (lead risk)	Non-food eating raising lead risk	Pediatrics Psychiatry
pink slip	pink slip (involuntary hold, Ohio)	Ohio involuntary hospitalization form nickname	Psychiatry
plan SI	suicidal plan (assessment element)	Specific method considered for self-harm	Psychiatry
PMDD	premenstrual dysphoric disorder	Severe mood symptoms in the days before a period	Psychiatry Obstetrics & Gynecology
PMS	premenstrual syndrome	Physical and emotional symptoms in the days before a period	Obstetrics & Gynecology Psychiatry
PNES	psychogenic nonepileptic seizures	Seizure-like episodes without abnormal brain electrical activity	Neurology Psychiatry
positive symptoms	positive symptoms (psychosis group)	Delusions and hallucinations group	Psychiatry
post-concussion	post-concussion symptoms (recovery)	Lingering symptoms after concussion	Pediatrics Neurology Psychiatry
PPD	paranoid personality disorder	Personality pattern of distrust and suspicion of others	Psychiatry
PPD	postpartum depression	Depression occurring after childbirth	Psychiatry Obstetrics & Gynecology
pro-ana	pro-ana content (harmful media)	Content promoting anorexia	Psychiatry Pediatrics
prodrome	prodrome (psychosis risk)	Early warning phase before psychosis	Psychiatry
proverb	proverb interpretation (mental status)	Abstract thinking test in the mental status exam	Psychiatry
PSC	Pediatric Symptom Checklist	Broad child behavior screen	Pediatrics Psychiatry
pseudobulbar affect	pseudobulbar affect (symptom)	Uncontrolled laughing or crying — symptom	Neurology Psychiatry
pseudodementia	pseudodementia (depression mimic)	Depression imitating dementia	Psychiatry Neurology
PSQI	Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index	Sleep quality questionnaire	Psychiatry Neurology
psychotic features	psychotic features (specifier)	Delusions or hallucinations within a mood episode	Psychiatry
PTSD	post-traumatic stress disorder	Mental health condition after trauma, with re-experiencing and avoidance	Psychiatry
RAD	reactive attachment disorder	Inhibited attachment after neglect	Psychiatry Pediatrics
rapid cycling	rapid cycling (specifier)	Four or more mood episodes a year specifier	Psychiatry
RAVLT	Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test	Word-list memory test	Neurology Psychiatry
RBANS	Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status	Brief repeatable cognitive battery	Neurology Psychiatry
RED-S	relative energy deficiency in sport	Updated broader athlete energy syndrome	Psychiatry Endocrinology Musculoskeletal
refeeding	refeeding syndrome (eating)	Dangerous shifts restarting nutrition — eating-disorder	Psychiatry Endocrinology Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
regression develop	developmental regression (loss of skills)	Losing gained skills, an urgent warning sign	Pediatrics Neurology Psychiatry
restraint	physical restraint (order)	Device or hold restricting movement, used as a last resort	Nursing Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
Rett	Rett syndrome (neurodevelopmental)	Genetic disorder mainly affecting girls' development	Neurology Pediatrics Psychiatry
room check	room check (safety)	Scheduled safety inspection of a patient room	Nursing Psychiatry
Rorschach	Rorschach inkblot test	Projective personality test	Psychiatry
rTMS	repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation	Repeated magnetic pulse treatment to brain areas	Neurology Psychiatry
RUDAS	Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale	Culture-fair dementia screen	Neurology Psychiatry
rumination	rumination syndrome (functional)	Effortless food regurgitation pattern	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Psychiatry
SA	suicide attempt	Self-harm act carried out with intent to die	Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
SAD	seasonal affective disorder	Depression recurring at a particular season, usually winter	Psychiatry
SAD	social anxiety disorder	Intense fear of social situations and being judged	Psychiatry
SAD anxiety	separation anxiety disorder	Excessive separation fear disorder	Psychiatry Pediatrics
SAD PERSONS	SAD PERSONS scale	Older suicide risk mnemonic scale	Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
safety plan	safety plan (suicide prevention)	Written coping and contact plan for suicidal urges	Psychiatry
SARI	serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor	Trazodone's antidepressant class	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
SAS	Simpson-Angus Scale (parkinsonism)	Rating scale for drug-induced parkinsonism	Psychiatry Neurology
SB5	Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales 5	Intelligence test edition	Psychiatry Pediatrics
SBIRT	screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment	Approach identifying and addressing substance use	Psychiatry General Medical
SBQ	single-question screen (substance)	One-item drug and alcohol screening approach	Psychiatry
SCARED	Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders	Parent and child anxiety screen	Psychiatry Pediatrics
SCD	subjective cognitive decline	Self-perceived decline with normal testing	Neurology Psychiatry
schizoaffective	schizoaffective disorder (diagnosis)	Psychosis with major mood episodes — diagnosis	Psychiatry
schizophrenia	schizophrenia (diagnosis)	Psychosis with delusions and disorganization — diagnosis	Psychiatry
schizophreniform	schizophreniform disorder (diagnosis)	Schizophrenia-like illness of one to six months	Psychiatry
school refusal	school refusal (behavior term)	Anxiety-driven school avoidance	Psychiatry Pediatrics
SCQ	Social Communication Questionnaire	Autism screening questionnaire	Pediatrics Psychiatry
SCZ	schizophrenia	Long-term condition affecting thinking, perception and behaviour	Psychiatry
SDMT	Symbol Digit Modalities Test	Processing speed test used in MS	Neurology Psychiatry
SDQ	Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire	Child behavior screening questionnaire	Pediatrics Psychiatry
selective mutism	selective mutism (diagnosis)	Speaking only in some settings — diagnosis	Psychiatry Pediatrics
serial 7s	serial sevens (attention test)	Subtracting by seven testing attention	Psychiatry Neurology
serotonin syndrome	serotonin syndrome (diagnosis)	Excess serotonin drug reaction — diagnosis	Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders
SGA	second-generation antipsychotic	Newer class of antipsychotic medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Psychiatry
SGA antipsychotic	second-generation antipsychotic (atypical)	Newer antipsychotic class	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
shared psychotic	shared psychotic disorder (folie à deux)	Delusion shared with a close contact	Psychiatry
SI	suicidal ideation	Thoughts about suicide or of harming oneself	Psychiatry
SIB	self-injurious behavior	Self-harming behavior, also in developmental disorders	Psychiatry Pediatrics Neurology
SIB	Severe Impairment Battery (cognitive)	Test for advanced dementia cognition	Neurology Psychiatry
SIPS	Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes	Prodrome assessment interview	Psychiatry
SLD	specific learning disorder	Persistent difficulty learning reading, writing or maths skills	Psychiatry Pediatrics
SLUMS	Saint Louis University Mental Status (psych)	Cognitive screen — psychiatric use	Psychiatry Neurology
SMI	serious mental illness	Mental illness that seriously interferes with daily functioning	Psychiatry
SMS	serotonin modulator and stimulator	Vortioxetine's antidepressant class	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
SNAP-IV	SNAP-IV (teacher/parent)	ADHD symptom rating — rater form	Pediatrics Psychiatry
SNAP-IV	Swanson Nolan and Pelham questionnaire	ADHD symptom rating scale	Pediatrics Psychiatry
SNRI	serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor	Antidepressant medicine affecting serotonin and norepinephrine	Prescription & Medication Orders Psychiatry
social anxiety	social anxiety disorder (diagnosis)	Social fear disorder — diagnosis	Psychiatry
somatization	somatic symptom disorder (diagnosis)	Distressing body symptoms with excess focus — diagnosis	Psychiatry
SPARI	serotonin partial agonist reuptake inhibitor	Vilazodone's antidepressant class	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
SPD	schizoid personality disorder	Detached loner pattern	Psychiatry
specific phobia	specific phobia (diagnosis)	Focused fear disorder — diagnosis	Psychiatry
SRS	Social Responsiveness Scale	Autism trait measure	Pediatrics Psychiatry
SRS-2	Social Responsiveness Scale-2	Autism trait rating scale	Pediatrics Psychiatry
SSD	somatic symptom disorder	Distressing physical symptoms with excessive related thoughts	Psychiatry
SSRI	selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor	Antidepressant medicine increasing serotonin availability	Prescription & Medication Orders Psychiatry
steroid phobia	steroid phobia (caregiver concern)	Fear limiting eczema cream use	Pediatrics Psychiatry
STPD	schizotypal personality disorder	Personality pattern with odd beliefs and social discomfort	Psychiatry
Stroop	Stroop test (attention)	Color-word interference test	Neurology Psychiatry
stuttering	childhood-onset fluency disorder (stuttering)	Speech flow disorder	Pediatrics Psychiatry
SUD	substance use disorder	Problematic pattern of substance use	Psychiatry
suicide precautions	suicide precautions (observation)	Constant observation and environment checks for safety	Nursing Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
sundowning	sundowning (term)	Evening worsening of confusion in dementia	Neurology Psychiatry Nursing
svPPA	semantic variant primary progressive aphasia	Word-meaning loss dementia variant	Neurology Psychiatry
SZA	schizoaffective disorder	Condition combining schizophrenia symptoms with mood episodes	Psychiatry
TAT	Thematic Apperception Test	Story-telling projective test	Psychiatry
TCA	tricyclic antidepressant	Older class of antidepressant medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Psychiatry
TD	tardive dyskinesia	Involuntary repetitive movements appearing after long medicine use	Psychiatry Neurology
tDCS	transcranial direct current stimulation	Weak current brain stimulation technique	Psychiatry Neurology
terminal delirium	terminal delirium (end of life)	Delirium in the last days of life	Neurology Psychiatry Nursing
TF-CBT	trauma-focused CBT	Child trauma therapy model	Psychiatry Pediatrics
thought content	thought content (mental status element)	What the patient is thinking about, including delusions	Psychiatry
thought process	thought process (mental status element)	How thoughts connect, such as loose or tangential	Psychiatry
tic disorders	tic disorders (Tourette group)	Motor and vocal tic conditions	Pediatrics Neurology Psychiatry
TMS	transcranial magnetic stimulation	Magnetic pulses stimulating brain areas through the skull	Neurology Psychiatry
trail making	trail making test (cognitive)	Timed connect-the-dots attention test	Neurology Psychiatry
TRF	Teacher Report Form	Achenbach teacher behavior scale	Pediatrics Psychiatry
trichotillomania	trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder)	Repetitive hair pulling disorder	Psychiatry Pediatrics
TS	Tourette syndrome	Condition with repeated involuntary movements and sounds called tics	Neurology Psychiatry
UDS	urine drug screen (panel)	Urine drug panel — panel	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory Psychiatry
UHR	ultra high risk (psychosis)	Highest psychosis risk category	Psychiatry
VaD	vascular dementia	Dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain	Neurology Psychiatry
verbal fluency	verbal fluency test (cognitive)	Timed word-generation test	Neurology Psychiatry
VH	visual hallucinations	Seeing things that are not there	Psychiatry
Vineland-3	Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-3	Current edition adaptive skills interview	Pediatrics Psychiatry
voluntary admission	voluntary admission (psych)	Patient agreeing to psychiatric admission	Psychiatry
VPA level	valproate level (monitoring)	Blood level check for valproic acid	Psychiatry Laboratory Neurology Prescription & Medication Orders
WAIS	Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale	Standard intelligence test for adults	Psychiatry
WAIS-IV	Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV	Adult intelligence test edition	Psychiatry Neurology Pediatrics
wander guard	wander management system	Tag system alerting when a patient nears exits	Nursing Psychiatry
WCST	Wisconsin Card Sorting Test	Set-shifting executive function test	Neurology Psychiatry
WD	withdrawal (documentation shorthand)	Abstinence syndrome shorthand	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
weight restoration	weight restoration (treatment goal)	Nutritional rehabilitation target in anorexia	Psychiatry Pediatrics Nursing
WHODAS	WHO Disability Assessment Schedule	Disability and functioning measure	Psychiatry General Medical
WISC	Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children	Standard intelligence test for children	Psychiatry Pediatrics
WISC-V	Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-V	Child intelligence test edition	Pediatrics Psychiatry
WKS	Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome	Brain disorder from thiamine deficiency, affecting memory	Neurology Psychiatry
WPPSI	Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence	Young child intelligence test	Pediatrics Psychiatry
WURS	Wender Utah Rating Scale	Retrospective childhood ADHD scale	Psychiatry
Y-BOCS	Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (score)	OCD severity scale — score	Psychiatry
YMRS	Young Mania Rating Scale	Clinician rating scale for mania severity	Psychiatry
YSR	Youth Self Report	Achenbach self-report behavior scale	Pediatrics Psychiatry

Educational reference only. This guide is for learning and quick reference. Abbreviations vary between hospitals, countries and specialties, and some are discouraged because they can be misread. Always write and interpret orders using your own institution’s approved abbreviation list, and check anything unclear with the prescriber or your local policy.

Psychiatry Abbreviations — MedicalVideos.com

1:1 — one-to-one observation

4-point restraints — four-point restraints

4AT — 4 A's test

5150 — 5150 hold (California)

5150 hold eval — 72-hour hold evaluation

ABA — applied behavior analysis

ABAS — Adaptive Behavior Assessment System

ACE-III — Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III

ACEs — adverse childhood experiences

ACT — acceptance and commitment therapy

ACT — assertive community treatment

active SI — active suicidal ideation

AD — Alzheimer disease

AD8 — AD8 dementia screening interview

ADAS-Cog — Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive

ADHD — attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

ADI-R — Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised

adjustment — adjustment disorder (diagnosis)

ADOS — Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule

affect MSE — affect (mental status element)

agoraphobia — agoraphobia (diagnosis)

AH — auditory hallucinations

AIMS exam — Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (exam)

akathisia — akathisia (side-effect)

AMS — altered mental status

AMTS — Abbreviated Mental Test Score

amygdala — amygdala (anatomy)

AN — anorexia nervosa

ANC clozapine — absolute neutrophil count (clozapine monitoring)

anti-NMDA — anti-NMDA receptor antibody

appearance MSE — appearance (mental status element)

ARBD — alcohol-related brain damage

ARFID — avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder

ASD — acute stress disorder

ASD — autism spectrum disorder

ASD trauma — acute stress disorder (trauma)

ASPD — antisocial personality disorder

ASRS — Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (screen)

atypical features — atypical features (specifier)

AUD — alcohol use disorder

AUDIT — Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test

AUDIT-C — AUDIT-C (consumption screen)

autism screening — autism-specific screening (18/24 month)

AvPD — avoidant personality disorder

AWOL — absent without leave (patient)

AWS — alcohol withdrawal syndrome

BAARS — Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale

BAC — blood alcohol concentration (measurement)

BAL — blood alcohol level (legal/clinical)

Barnes — Barnes Akathisia Scale

BASC — Behavior Assessment System for Children

BD — bipolar disorder

BD-I — bipolar I disorder

BD-II — bipolar II disorder

BDD — body dysmorphic disorder

BDI — Beck Depression Inventory

BED — binge eating disorder

bed check — bed check (safety rounds)

BEHAVE-AD — Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer Disease scale

Bender — Bender Gestalt Test

Benzo — benzodiazepine

BFCRS — Bush Francis Catatonia Rating Scale

BN — bulimia nervosa

body check — body checking (behavior)

BPAD — bipolar affective disorder (term)

BPD — borderline personality disorder

BPRS — Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale

BRIEF — Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function

brief psychotic — brief psychotic disorder (diagnosis)

BRIEF-A — BRIEF Adult Version

bvFTD — behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia

BZD — benzodiazepine

C-SSRS — Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale

CAARMS — Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States

CAARS — Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales

CAGE — CAGE questionnaire

CALM — counseling on access to lethal means

CAMS — Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality

Capgras — Capgras delusion (impostor)

CAPS-5 — Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale

CARS — Childhood Autism Rating Scale

catatonia — catatonia (psych)

CBCL — Child Behavior Checklist

CBT — cognitive behavioral therapy

CBT-E — enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy (eating)

CBT-I — CBT for insomnia

CD — conduct disorder

CDI — Children's Depression Inventory

CDR — Clinical Dementia Rating

CDR-SB — Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes

CDRS-R — Children's Depression Rating Scale Revised

CGI — Clinical Global Impression

CHR — clinical high risk (psychosis)

CIWA — Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment

CIWA benzodiazepine — CIWA-B (benzodiazepine withdrawal)

CIWA-Ar — Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol, Revised

clock draw — clock drawing test (cognitive)

clozapine REMS — clozapine REMS (monitoring program)

CMAI — Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory

CMAI-SF — Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory Short Form

combined ADHD — combined presentation (ADHD)

Conners-3 — Conners 3rd Edition (ADHD ratings)

conversion — conversion disorder (functional neurological)

Cotard — Cotard delusion (nihilistic)

COWS — Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale

CPT therapy — cognitive processing therapy

CRAFFT — CRAFFT screening tool

CSC — coordinated specialty care (psychosis)

CTE — chronic traumatic encephalopathy (concern)

CUD — cannabis use disorder

CY-BOCS — Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale

DAST — Drug Abuse Screening Test

DBT — dialectical behavior therapy

delusional disorder — delusional disorder (diagnosis)

depot — depot injection (antipsychotic)

DES — Dissociative Experiences Scale

DID — dissociative identity disorder

digit span — digit span (cognitive)

discontinuation syndrome — antidepressant discontinuation syndrome

DISCUS — Dyskinesia Identification System Condensed User Scale

disorganization — disorganized symptoms (psychosis)

dissociative amnesia — dissociative amnesia (diagnosis)

DIVA — Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults

DLB — dementia with Lewy bodies

DLD — developmental language disorder

DMDD — disruptive mood dysregulation disorder

DMER — dysphoric milk ejection reflex

DPD — dependent personality disorder

DPDR — depersonalization/derealization disorder

DRS-R-98 — Delirium Rating Scale Revised-98

DSED — disinhibited social engagement disorder

DSM-5 — Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition

DTs — delirium tremens

DUP — duration of untreated psychosis

dyscalculia — dyscalculia (math disorder)

dysgraphia — dysgraphia (writing disorder)

dyslexia — dyslexia (reading disorder)

dystonia — acute dystonia (reaction)

eating disorders group — eating disorders (AN/BN/BED group)

ECT — electroconvulsive therapy

ED — eating disorder

Edinburgh scale — Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

eloped — eloped (left unnoticed)

elopement precautions — elopement precautions

EMDR — eye movement desensitization and reprocessing

encopresis — encopresis (soiling term)

enuresis — nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting)

EPDS — Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (abbreviation)

EPS — extrapyramidal symptoms

erotomania — erotomania (delusional type)

esketamine — esketamine (Spravato class)

excoriation — excoriation disorder (skin-picking)

exercise comp — compulsive exercise (behavior)

FAB — Frontal Assessment Battery

factitious — factitious disorder (imposed)

FAQ cog — Functional Activities Questionnaire (cognitive)

FASD — fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

FAST — Functional Assessment Staging (dementia)

FAST scale — Functional Assessment Staging Tool

FBT — family-based treatment (Maudsley)

FDIA — factitious disorder imposed on another

feeding aversion — feeding aversion (behavioral)

female athlete triad — female athlete triad (syndrome)

FEP — first-episode psychosis

FGA — first-generation antipsychotic

FGA antipsychotic — first-generation antipsychotic (typical)

first rank — first-rank symptoms (Schneiderian)

FND — functional neurological disorder

food chaining — food chaining (therapy)

fragile X — fragile X syndrome (genetic)

Fregoli — Fregoli delusion (disguise)

FTD — frontotemporal dementia

functional abdo — functional abdominal pain disorders (group)

GAD — generalized anxiety disorder

GAD-7 — Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7

GAF — Global Assessment of Functioning

GDS — Global Deterioration Scale (dementia staging)

gesture — suicide gesture (older term)

global delay — global developmental delay (term)

Go/No-Go — go/no-go test (impulsivity)

GPCOG — General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition

HAM-A — Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale

HAM-D — Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

HD — hoarding disorder

HD — Huntington disease

hepatic enceph — hepatic encephalopathy (psych presentation)

HI — homicidal ideation

hoarding — hoarding disorder (diagnosis)

HPD — histrionic personality disorder

hyperactive ADHD — predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation (ADHD)

hyperactive delirium — hyperactive delirium (subtype)

hypoactive delirium — hypoactive delirium (subtype)

IAD — illness anxiety disorder

ID — intellectual disability

IED — intermittent explosive disorder

IES-R — Impact of Event Scale Revised

illness anxiety — illness anxiety disorder (diagnosis)

inattentive ADHD — predominantly inattentive presentation (ADHD)

insight MSE — insight (mental status element)

intent SI — suicidal intent (assessment element)

intox — intoxication (documentation shorthand)

IPT — interpersonal psychotherapy

IPT — interpersonal therapy

IQ — intelligence quotient

IQCODE — Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline

ISI — Insomnia Severity Index

IV ketamine — intravenous ketamine (depression treatment)

IVC — involuntary commitment

judgment MSE — judgment (mental status element)

KBIT — Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test

LAI — long-acting injectable

LAI antipsychotic — long-acting injectable antipsychotic

LD — learning disability

lethal means — lethal means (counseling)

Li level — lithium level (monitoring)

LPS — Lanterman-Petris-Short (hold law)

lvPPA — logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia

M-CHAT — Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers

M-CHAT-R — Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers Revised

MADRS — Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale

malingering — malingering (documentation)

MAOI — monoamine oxidase inhibitor

MASC — Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children

MAT — medication-assisted treatment

MCI — mild cognitive impairment

MCI subtypes — mild cognitive impairment (amnestic/non-amnestic)

MCMI — Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory

MDAS — Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale

MDD — major depressive disorder

MDE — major depressive episode

MDQ — Mood Disorder Questionnaire

meal support — meal support (eating disorder care)

melancholic — melancholic features (specifier)

MI — motivational interviewing

Mini-Cog — Mini-Cog (screen)

mixed delirium — mixed delirium (subtype)

mixed features — mixed features (specifier)

MMPI — Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

MMPI-3 — Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3

MMSE — Mini-Mental State Examination

MoCA — Montreal Cognitive Assessment

MoCA-B — MoCA Basic (low literacy version)

mood MSE — mood (mental status element)

MOUD — medications for opioid use disorder

MSE — mental state examination

Munchausen — Munchausen syndrome (factitious)

muscle dysmorphia — muscle dysmorphia (bigorexia)

NaSSA — noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant

NCD — neurocognitive disorder

NDRI — norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor

negative symptoms — negative symptoms (psychosis group)

nfvPPA — nonfluent variant primary progressive aphasia

NG feeds — nasogastric feeding (eating disorder care)

NIAAA guide — NIAAA single alcohol screening question

NMDAR ab — anti-NMDA receptor antibody

NMS — neuroleptic malignant syndrome

no-harm contract — no-harm contract (older practice)

NOS — not otherwise specified (psych diagnosis suffix)

NOWS — neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (diagnosis)

NPD — narcissistic personality disorder

NPI — Neuropsychiatric Inventory

NPI-Q — Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire

NSSI — nonsuicidal self-injury

OCD — obsessive-compulsive disorder

OCPD — obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

OD — overdose (presentation)

ODD — oppositional defiant disorder

orthorexia — orthorexia (proposed term)

OUD — opioid use disorder

P N E S — psychogenic nonepileptic events (term)

PAI — Personality Assessment Inventory

PAINAD — Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (scale)

PANDAS — pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus

panic — panic disorder (diagnosis)

PANS — pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome

PANSS — Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale

parasuicide — parasuicide (older term)

PASAT — Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test

passive SI — passive suicidal ideation

PCL-5 — PTSD Checklist for DSM-5

PD — panic disorder

PDD — persistent depressive disorder

PE therapy — prolonged exposure (therapy)

perception MSE — perception (mental status element)

personality disorders group — personality disorders (cluster A/B/C group)

PHQ-2 — Patient Health Questionnaire-2

PHQ-9 — Patient Health Questionnaire-9

PHQ-9A — PHQ-9 modified for adolescents

pica — pica (eating non-food)

pica lead — pica (lead risk)

pink slip — pink slip (involuntary hold, Ohio)

plan SI — suicidal plan (assessment element)

PMDD — premenstrual dysphoric disorder

PMS — premenstrual syndrome

PNES — psychogenic nonepileptic seizures

positive symptoms — positive symptoms (psychosis group)

post-concussion — post-concussion symptoms (recovery)

PPD — paranoid personality disorder

PPD — postpartum depression

pro-ana — pro-ana content (harmful media)

prodrome — prodrome (psychosis risk)

proverb — proverb interpretation (mental status)

PSC — Pediatric Symptom Checklist

pseudobulbar affect — pseudobulbar affect (symptom)

pseudodementia — pseudodementia (depression mimic)

PSQI — Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

psychotic features — psychotic features (specifier)

PTSD — post-traumatic stress disorder

RAD — reactive attachment disorder

rapid cycling — rapid cycling (specifier)

RAVLT — Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test

RBANS — Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status

RED-S — relative energy deficiency in sport

refeeding — refeeding syndrome (eating)

regression develop — developmental regression (loss of skills)

restraint — physical restraint (order)

Rett — Rett syndrome (neurodevelopmental)

room check — room check (safety)

Rorschach — Rorschach inkblot test

rTMS — repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

RUDAS — Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale

rumination — rumination syndrome (functional)

SA — suicide attempt

SAD — seasonal affective disorder

SAD — social anxiety disorder

SAD anxiety — separation anxiety disorder

SAD PERSONS — SAD PERSONS scale

safety plan — safety plan (suicide prevention)

SARI — serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor

SAS — Simpson-Angus Scale (parkinsonism)

SB5 — Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales 5

SBIRT — screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment

SBQ — single-question screen (substance)

SCARED — Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders

SCD — subjective cognitive decline

schizoaffective — schizoaffective disorder (diagnosis)

schizophrenia — schizophrenia (diagnosis)

schizophreniform — schizophreniform disorder (diagnosis)

school refusal — school refusal (behavior term)

SCQ — Social Communication Questionnaire

SCZ — schizophrenia

SDMT — Symbol Digit Modalities Test

SDQ — Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

selective mutism — selective mutism (diagnosis)

serial 7s — serial sevens (attention test)

serotonin syndrome — serotonin syndrome (diagnosis)

SGA — second-generation antipsychotic

SGA antipsychotic — second-generation antipsychotic (atypical)

shared psychotic — shared psychotic disorder (folie à deux)

SI — suicidal ideation

SIB — self-injurious behavior

SIB — Severe Impairment Battery (cognitive)

SIPS — Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes

SLD — specific learning disorder

SLUMS — Saint Louis University Mental Status (psych)

SMI — serious mental illness

SMS — serotonin modulator and stimulator

SNAP-IV — SNAP-IV (teacher/parent)

SNAP-IV — Swanson Nolan and Pelham questionnaire

SNRI — serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor

social anxiety — social anxiety disorder (diagnosis)

somatization — somatic symptom disorder (diagnosis)

SPARI — serotonin partial agonist reuptake inhibitor

SPD — schizoid personality disorder

specific phobia — specific phobia (diagnosis)

SRS — Social Responsiveness Scale

SRS-2 — Social Responsiveness Scale-2

SSD — somatic symptom disorder

SSRI — selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

steroid phobia — steroid phobia (caregiver concern)

STPD — schizotypal personality disorder

Stroop — Stroop test (attention)

stuttering — childhood-onset fluency disorder (stuttering)

SUD — substance use disorder

suicide precautions — suicide precautions (observation)

sundowning — sundowning (term)

svPPA — semantic variant primary progressive aphasia

SZA — schizoaffective disorder

TAT — Thematic Apperception Test

TCA — tricyclic antidepressant

TD — tardive dyskinesia

tDCS — transcranial direct current stimulation

terminal delirium — terminal delirium (end of life)

TF-CBT — trauma-focused CBT

thought content — thought content (mental status element)

thought process — thought process (mental status element)

tic disorders — tic disorders (Tourette group)

TMS — transcranial magnetic stimulation

trail making — trail making test (cognitive)

TRF — Teacher Report Form

trichotillomania — trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder)

TS — Tourette syndrome

UDS — urine drug screen (panel)

UHR — ultra high risk (psychosis)

VaD — vascular dementia

verbal fluency — verbal fluency test (cognitive)

VH — visual hallucinations

Vineland-3 — Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-3

voluntary admission — voluntary admission (psych)

VPA level — valproate level (monitoring)

WAIS — Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale

WAIS-IV — Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV

wander guard — wander management system

WCST — Wisconsin Card Sorting Test

WD — withdrawal (documentation shorthand)

weight restoration — weight restoration (treatment goal)

WHODAS — WHO Disability Assessment Schedule

WISC — Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children

WISC-V — Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-V

WKS — Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

WPPSI — Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence

WURS — Wender Utah Rating Scale

Y-BOCS — Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (score)

YMRS — Young Mania Rating Scale

YSR — Youth Self Report

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Psychiatry Abbreviations

Psychiatry Abbreviations — MedicalVideos.com

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