Clinical
Shorthand

Popularized by Project Semicolon. Represents a pause in one's story, not an ending. Often worn as tattoos or jewelry by survivors.

Represents hope, renewal, and commitment to breaking stigma. Worn during Mental Health Awareness Month (May).

Derived from Latin "recipe" meaning "take". Universal symbol for medication orders.

Used during Suicide Prevention Month (September) and World Suicide Prevention Day (Sept 10).

Often followed by ICD-10 or DSM-5-TR codes in clinical documentation.

Used globally for mental health campaigns, particularly during Mental Health Awareness Month (May).

Used as "PMHx" (past medical history), "FHx" (family history), or "SocHx" (social history).

Can refer to psychotherapy sessions, medication management, or broader care plan.

Standard abbreviation in all clinical documentation.

Critical notation indicating thoughts of self-harm. Requires immediate risk assessment and safety planning.

Medication taken when necessary rather than on fixed schedule. Common for anxiety meds.

Standard clinical documentation format. S: patient report, O: observable data, A: clinical judgment, P: treatment plan.

Patient-reported experiences that guide diagnostic assessment.

Thoughts of harming others. Mandates immediate intervention and potential duty to warn.

Clinical best practice: emphasizes humanity before diagnosis. Reduces stigma and objectification.

Shorthand in notes: "Depression w/ psychotic features."

Common for medications requiring split dosing throughout the day.

Primary reason patient is seeking care, typically in their own words.

Clinical diagnosis (DSM-5-TR) that frames addiction as treatable medical condition.

Used to document patient's chief concern: "Pt c/o increased anxiety this week."

Removes moral judgment. "Committed" language is a holdover from when suicide was criminalized.

One-on-one session format, typically 45-60 minutes.

Also written as "daily". Standard dosing for many psych meds.

Standard ambulatory care, typically weekly sessions.

Affirms ongoing process and dignity. "Clean/dirty" implies moral judgment and shame.

Multiple patients in therapeutic setting, led by one or more facilitators.

Systematic assessment of appearance, behavior, cognition, mood, and thought process.

Criterion standard for assessing suicidal ideation and behavior. Used in research and clinical care.

Mental status indicator. "A&Ox4" includes situation awareness.

Represents the journey from darkness (cocoon) to light. Often used in eating disorder recovery and PTSD healing.

Also called "Baker Act" in Florida. Used when person is danger to self/others or gravely disabled.

The lotus blooms from murky water, representing beauty emerging from difficulty. Used in trauma recovery contexts.

Dual use: Recovery Month (September) for addiction, and year-round for bipolar awareness.

Also written as "w/o". Example: "Anxiety s/ panic attacks."

Step-down from PHP, typically 3 hours/day, 3-5 days/week.

Intensive outpatient care, typically 5-6 hours/day, 5 days/week.

Specifically used for post-traumatic stress disorder campaigns and veteran mental health.

Used in assessments: "↑ mood" or "↑ dose to 20mg."

Example: "↓ sleep quality" or "↓ medication to 5mg."

Simplified documentation format combining subjective/objective into "Data" section.

Increasingly used in 2025-2026 campaigns to specifically highlight anxiety conditions.

Includes family members or support system in treatment process.

Common for sedating medications or sleep aids.

Notation for psychotic symptoms. May indicate need for medication adjustment or crisis care.

Therapy-focused note format emphasizing what happened in session and patient response.

Standard for activating medications like stimulants or SSRIs.

Some communities prefer identity-first. Always respect individual preference and self-identification.

A 300-pound bell cast from melted shackles once used in asylums. Represents hope and the end of discrimination.

Shows causality or progression: "Stressor → panic attack → avoidance."

Systematic documentation of symptoms across body systems (psychiatric ROS covers mood, sleep, appetite, etc.).

Used for dementia, Alzheimer's, and broader neurological mental health conditions.

Less common in psychiatry; more typical for certain mood stabilizers.

Legal obligation to breach confidentiality when patient poses serious threat to identifiable person.

In psychiatry, often limited to vital signs and general appearance unless medical concern.

Used for unremarkable findings: "Thought process WNL."

Used for medications that may cause drowsiness.

Deprecated in DSM-5 but still used in some settings. Higher score = better functioning.

Indicates patient appears stable without immediate crisis concerns.

Provider-rated severity (CGI-S) and improvement (CGI-I) on 1-7 scale.

Replaced GAF in DSM-5. Measures functioning across 6 domains.

Rare in outpatient psychiatry; may be used in acute inpatient settings.