Caveat:  This listing is the result of the author compiling entries found in the review of literally thousands ("TNTC") of clinical records of psychiatric patients (child, adolescent, adult, geriatric) hospitalized in 9 states in the United States of America since 1995, and selections from Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary (see below).  It is offered as an aid and not as a exhaustive source for all clinical abbreviations. Consult your provider if there is any contradictory information or if you need clarification. If you do not have a provider, you can contact your local Mental Health Society or State/Provincial Department of Mental Health. This list was developed by the author, Vance Stewart, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist. Psychologists are not medical doctors. The statements above are meant to serve as a form of legal notice of protection against misuse.

aa

of each

Dx

Diagnosis

A/C/N/G\A

Alcohol/Cocaine/Narcotic/Gambler\Anonymous

Dz

Disease

Ab

abortion

EAP

Employee Assistance Program

ac

before meals

EC ASA

Enteric Coated Aspirin

AD/HD

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity D/O

EC(K)G

Electrocardiogram

ad lib

freely

ECT

Electroconvulsive Therapy

AEB

As Evidenced By

EEG

Electroenchephalograph

AF

Afebrile

e.g.

for example

AKA

Also Known As/Above Knee Amputation

EMG

Electromyography

AIDS

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

EOM

Extra Ocular Movements

AMA

Against Medical Advice;American Medical Assoc;

EP

Elopement Precautions

Advanced maternal age

EPS

Extrapyramidal Signs

APA

American Psychiatric/Psychological Assoc.

CPZ

Compazine

ASA

Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin)

ER

Emergency Room

ASHD

Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease

et

and

AWOL

Absent without (official) leave

ETA

Estimated Time of Arrival

A&D

Alcohol and Drug

ETOH

Ethyl Alcohol

A&Ox4

Alert and Oriented x 4 (person.,place,time, situ.)

FAS

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

BAL

Blood Alcohol Level

FB's

Flashblacks

BDZ

Benzodiazepine

FICA

Federal Insurance Contribution Act

BHO

Behavioral Health Organization

FMLA

Family Medical Leave Act

b.i.d.

twice daily

FOI

Flight of ideas; Fund of information

B/Os

blackouts

f/u

follow up

BP

blood pressure

FUO

Fever of unknown origin

BPD

Borderline Personality D/O

Fx

Fracture

BRP

bath or break room privileges

Fxn

Functioning

BSO

Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy

g

general intelligence factor

BTL

Bilateral Tubal Ligation

GERD

gastroesophageal reflux D/O

bx

biopsy/behavior

GI

Gastrointestinal

BVMGT

Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test

gp

Group (Therapy)

_

GSR

Galvanic Skin Response (Skin Conductance)

c

with

gtt

a drop

C

Caucasian

HA

Headache

Ca

Cancer

HCFA

Healthcare Finance Admin.

CA

Chronological Age

HEENT

Head, Ears, Eyes, Nose, Throat

CABG

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

HI

Homicidal Ideation

CAT/CT

Computerized Transverse Tomography (scan)

HIV

human immunodeficiency virus (infection)

C/R/WBC

complete/red/white blood count

HMO

Health Maintenance Org.

cc

cubic centimeter

HNP

Herniated Nucleus Pulposis (and low back pain)

CC

Chief Complaint

HOB

Head of bed/Handrails of bed

CD

Chemical Dependence

HPT

Hypertension, see also HTN

CHF

Congestive Heart Failure

/HPF

per High Powered Field

CHI

Closed Head Injury

H.S.

at bedtime (hour of sleep)

CIT

Crisis Intervention Team

HTN

Hypertension; see also HPT

CM

Case Management

HX

History

CNS

Central Nervous System

hypo

hypodermic

COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

i.e.

that is

C/O

care of; Complained of

IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

CPR

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

I/RBW

Ideal/Recommended (or Reasonable) Body Wt.

CPT

Coder's Procedural Terminology

ICD - # CM

International Classification

CSF

Cerebrospinal Fluid

(ICD-9 CM)

of Diseases=#? Coding Manual

CVA

Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke)

ICF

Intermediate Care Facility

Cx

Cancel

IM

Intramuscular

dba

Doing Business As

IMI

Imipramine

DID

Dissociative Identity D/O (MPD)

I&O

Intake & output

DIMS

D/O's of Initiating and Maintaining Sleep

IPA

Independent (or Individual) Practice Association

D.M. or DM

Diabetes Milletus

IPO

Initial Public Offering

DNKA

Did Not Keep Appointment

IQ

Intelligence Quotient

DOC

Drug of Choice

IT

Individual Therapy

D.O.N. or DON

Director of Nursing

IUP

Intrauterine Pregnancy

D/O

Disorder

IV

Intravenous

DSM-#

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual

KSW

Knife Stab Wound

eg DSM-IV

of Mental Disorders, # Edition (APA)

Li+

Lithium

DSG

Dressing

LOA

Leave of Absence; Looseness of Assoc.

DST

Dexamethasone Suppression Test

LOC

Loss of Consciousness/Level of Care

DT's

Delirium tremens

LOS

Length of Stay

L/R U/L E/L/Q

Left/Right Upper/Lower Extremity/Lobe/Quardrant

MA

Mental Age

ROM

Range of Motion

MAR

Medication Administration Record

RPR

Rapid Plasma Reagin

MCO

Managed Care Organization

RTB

Return(ed) to Bed

MCMI

Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory

RTC

Return to Clinic; Residential Tx Ctr.

MDI

Manic Depressive Illness (Bipolar D/O)

Rx

Prescription

MFG

Multifamily Group

Rxn

Reaction

MH

Mental Health

_

MI

Myocardial Infarction; Mental Ilness

s

without

MMPI

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

S(s)

Subject(s)

MMY

Mental Measurements Yearbook (Buros)

SDAT

Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type

MOT

Mandatory Outpatient Tx

SI

Suicidal Ideation

MPD

Multiple Personality D/O (see also "DID")

SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

MR

Mental Retardation

SLE

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

SOB

Shortness of Breath

MSE

Mental Status Exam

SOR

Seclusion or Restraint(s)

MVA

Motor Vehicle Accident

s.o.s.

once if necessary

MVP

Mitral Valve Prolapse

SP

Suicidal Precautions

NAD

No Acute Distress

S/P

Status Post

NAS diet

No added salt diet

..

NC/NS

No Call/No Show

ss

a half

NCS

No Concentrated Sugars (diet)

SS(N)RI

Selective Serotonin (Norepinephrine) Reuptake Inhibitor

NFI/D

Not Following Instructions/Directions

STAT

immediately

NKM/DA

No Known Medication/Drug Allergies

STD

Sexually Transmitted Disease

NMS

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome

STS

Serologic Test(s) for Syphilis

NOS

Not Otherwise Specified

SVT

Supraventricular Tachycardia

n.p.o.

nothing by mouth

SxS

Signs and Symptoms

N.S.

Nurse's Station

Sz

Seizure

NSR

Normal Sinus Rhythm

TAH

Total Abdominal Hysterectomy

NTE

Not to exceed

TAT

Thematic Apperception Test

NTG

Nitroglycerin

TB

Tuberculosis

nx

next

TBS

tablespoon

_

TCA

Tricyclic Antidepressant

o

without

TCN

Tetracycline

OBS

Organic Brain Syndrome

THC

Tetrahydrocannabinol (Marijuana)

OCD

Obsessive Compulsive D/O

TIAs

Transient Ischemic Attacks

OD

Overdose

t.i.d.

three times a day

OOA/B/T

out of (assigned) area/bed/town

TLE

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

OP Tx

Outpatient Treatment

TMJ

Temporomandibular joint (pain)

OOS

Out of Sequence

TNTC

Too Numerous to Count

OOT

Out of Town

T.O.

Time Out; Telephone Order

OTC

Over the Counter

TP

Therapeutic Pass

_

tsp

teaspoon

p

after

TTV

Therapeutic Trial Visit

Pb

Phenobarbital

Tx

Treatment

PC

Presenting Complaint

UA

Urinalysis

PCH

Probable Cause Hearing

UDS

Urine Drug Screen

PCN

Penicillin

UFN

Until Further Notice

PCP

Phencyclidine

UR/M

Utilization Review/Management

PERRLA 

Pupils Equal, Round and Reactive

URI

Upper Respiratory Infection

to Light and Accommodation

UTA

Unable to assess

PHO

Physician Hospital Organization

UTI

Urinary Tract Infection

PID

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (Salpingitis)

VDRL

Venereal DZ research laboratory test

p.o.

by mouth

V.O.

Verbal Order

POS

Point of Service

w/

with

PPO/N

Preferred Provider Organization/Network

WAIS-?

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Version?

PRN

whenever needed

WBT

Wellbutrin

Pt(s)

Patient(s)

WD

Well Developed

PTA

Prior to Admission; Post Trauma Amnesia

W/E

Weekend

PUD

Peptic Ulcer Disease

WISC-?

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Version?

_

WN

Well Nourished

q

every

WNL

Within Normal Limits

Q.

Query/Question

Wt

Weight

qd/h/min

every day/hour/minutes

X

Time

q.i.d.

four times a day

_

q.o.d.

every other day

X

Mean or Average

QR

Quiet Room

x/c

Except

RIT

Rorschach Inkblot Technique

Y/O

year(s) old