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Mental health is stuffed full of abbreviations, which can make understanding really difficult, particularly when you're just learning about depression and are probably feeling miserable and intimidated. Here is a list of the most commonly used abbreviations.
General Medical/Mental Health Abbreviations:
AD: Antidepressant
CBT: Cognitive behavioural therapy
CPA: Care plan approach (uk only)
Dx: Diagnosis
ECT: Electroconvulsive therapy
Rx'ed: Prescribed medication
SE: Side effect
SI: Self-injury
Pracitioners:
CPN: Community psychiatric nurse
GP: General practitioner
Pdoc: Psychiatrist. A medical doctor who has chosen to specialise in mental heath. Can prescribe medication
Tdoc: Therapist / counsellor / psychologist (does not prescribe medication)
OT: Occupational Therapist
Disorders:
BP: Bipolar
BPD: Borderline personality disorder - can be confused with bipolar disorder - be careful!
ED: Eating disorder
GAD: Generalised anxiety disorder
OCD: Obsessive compulsive disorder
PTSD: Post traumatic stress disorder
More will be added in the future!
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Medical Abbreviations
MultiQuote#2 Guest_Jake_*
Posted 05 May 2005 - 03:41 PM
Some drug abbreviations:
SSRI Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. Boosts serotonin in the brain. Includes Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro and Luvox.
SNRI Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor. Boosts both serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. Includes venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine.
TCA. Tricyclic antidepressant. Older generation of antidepressants, used less frequently now because they have more side effects than newer generation. Includes amytriptyline, imipramine, desipramine and many others.
Benzo. Benzodiazepine. Anxiety-reducing and sleep-inducing drugs, which include Xanax (alprazolam), Ativan (lorazepam), Valium (diazepam), Halcion (triazolam).
qd. Take drug once a day.
bid. Take twice a day
tid. Take 3 tiems a day.
SSRI Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. Boosts serotonin in the brain. Includes Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro and Luvox.
SNRI Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor. Boosts both serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. Includes venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine.
TCA. Tricyclic antidepressant. Older generation of antidepressants, used less frequently now because they have more side effects than newer generation. Includes amytriptyline, imipramine, desipramine and many others.
Benzo. Benzodiazepine. Anxiety-reducing and sleep-inducing drugs, which include Xanax (alprazolam), Ativan (lorazepam), Valium (diazepam), Halcion (triazolam).
qd. Take drug once a day.
bid. Take twice a day
tid. Take 3 tiems a day.
#4 Guest_Jake_*
Posted 07 May 2006 - 06:15 PM
MAOI. Monoamine oxidase inhibitor. Monomine oxidase is an enzyme in the brain (and elsewhere) that breaks down neurotransmitters--like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine--that have been secreted in the brain. The result of inhibiting MAO is to boost the presence of these neurotransmitters in the brain, which can help improve mood and alleviate anxiety and depression. Examples of MAOIs:
isocarboxazid (Marplan)
phenelzine (Nardil)
tranylcypromine (Parnate)
They are as effective as any of the antidepressans, perhaps even more effective, but their usage is limited because you have to watch your diet if you take them. MAO also breaks down tyramine, a common protein found in many foods, and blocking MAO can lead to excess tyramine in the body, which can be very damaging, even fatal. If you're good at watching what you eat, though, MAOIs can sometimes work when other drugs don't. Or so I've read (never tried them--you have to minimize or eliminate most wines)
isocarboxazid (Marplan)
phenelzine (Nardil)
tranylcypromine (Parnate)
They are as effective as any of the antidepressans, perhaps even more effective, but their usage is limited because you have to watch your diet if you take them. MAO also breaks down tyramine, a common protein found in many foods, and blocking MAO can lead to excess tyramine in the body, which can be very damaging, even fatal. If you're good at watching what you eat, though, MAOIs can sometimes work when other drugs don't. Or so I've read (never tried them--you have to minimize or eliminate most wines)
#5 Guest_Jake_*
Posted 07 May 2006 - 06:34 PM
Additional common abbreviations.
GAD Generalized anxiety disorder (moi)
ADHD. Attention deficit hyperactive disoder.
ADD. Attention deficit disorder. Many who are diagnosed with ADHD only have ADD, without the hyper.
FDA. Food and Drug Administration. U.S. body that approves drugs for sale or use.
PTSD. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
MDD. Major depressive disorder.
PMDD. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (I've never had it; don't see what all the fuss is about).
OCD Obsessive compulsive disorder.
GAD Generalized anxiety disorder (moi)
ADHD. Attention deficit hyperactive disoder.
ADD. Attention deficit disorder. Many who are diagnosed with ADHD only have ADD, without the hyper.
FDA. Food and Drug Administration. U.S. body that approves drugs for sale or use.
PTSD. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
MDD. Major depressive disorder.
PMDD. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (I've never had it; don't see what all the fuss is about).
OCD Obsessive compulsive disorder.
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