Speaking the Language of Eating Disorders: Understanding Acronyms

Written by: Vanessa Hart, OT Reg. (Ont.) (she/her/hers)

AX completed by MRP, and RN. 28M meets the DSM DX criteria for AFRID, and OCD. Client has HX of MDD, and has completed outpatient CBT and CPT in the past. ECG was normal. TX plan is for client to complete DBT groups, as well as meet with OT for RTW intervention. SW will support for D/C planning including navigation of NEDIC resources, and to schedule appointment with GP.

Was reading that paragraph difficult? It is for most people. Professionals that are involved with eating disorder treatment, from therapists to doctors, often communicate in what seems like an alien language. Acronyms or short forms are used to more easily and quickly communicate ideas. Unfortunately, for those who do not have much experience within the medical world, these short forms are confusing and can make information difficult to understand.

For this reason, I (Vanessa, an Occupational Therapist working in an inpatient eating disorder rehabilitation program) have created a handy list of common acronyms that are found in eating disorder related treatment information and professional notes. We hope that this helps to make more sense of the alien language that surrounds you!

P.S. Send us an e-mail if you think we missed something :)

ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

AN: Anorexia nervosa

ADD: Attention Deficit Disorder

ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ARFID: Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder

AX: Assessment

BDD: Body Dysmorphic Disorder

BED: Binge Eating Disorder

BMI: Body Mass Index

BMR: Base Metabolic Rate

BN: Bulimia Nervosa

BPD: Borderline Personality Disorder

CBT-E: Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (for eating disorders)

CPF-E – Compassion focused therapy for eating disorders

CPT: Cognitive Processing Therapy

CHSP: Chewing and spitting

DBT: Dialectical Behavior Therapy

DOC: Drug of choice

DSM: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders

DX: Diagnosis

D/C: Discharge

ECG: Electrocardiogram

ECT: Electroconvulsive Therapy

ED: Eating Disorder

EDNOS: Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified

ERP: Exposure and response prevention therapy

FBT: Family-based Therapy

GAD: Generalized Anxiety Disorder

GP: General Practitioner (Family Doctor)

HX: History

IOP: Intensive outpatient program

IP: In-patient

IT: Interpersonal Therapy

Inpatient: Treatment within a hospital or residential setting

MDD: Major depressive disorder (depression)

MET: Motivational Enhancement Therapy

MI: Motivational Interviewing

MP/MRP: Most responsible physician

MSE: Mental Status Exam

NEDIC: National eating disorder information center

NG: Nasogastric Feeding

NP: Nurse Practitioner

OCD: Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

OP: Out-patient

OT: Occupational Therapist

OTC: Over the counter (medication)

OSFED: Other specified feeding and eating disorders

Outpatient: Treatment outside of the hospital

PHP: Physician health program

PRN: As needed (often in reference to medication)

PT: Physical Therapist or patient (pt.)

PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder

RD: Registered Dietician

RP: Registered Psychotherapist

RT: Recreation therapist

RTW: Return to work

RTS: Return to school

RN: Registered Nurse

SI: Suicidal ideation and/or self-injury

SH: Self harm

SIB: Self Injurious Behavior

SW: Social Worker

TIB: Therapy interfering behavior

TW: Trigger warning

TX: Treatment

UFED: Unspecified feeding or eating disorder

Try reading the paragraph from the beginning of the article again. Does it make more sense? Learning the language of the health care system takes time. I am hoping that this reference guide can be a helpful start. Please comment below if we missed anything! Thanks for reading.