PDD
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Persistent depressive disorder |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical |
PDD has two meanings. It stands for Persistent depressive disorder (mental health & psychiatry) or Pervasive developmental disorder (mental health & psychiatry).
Meanings of PDD at a glance
| # | PDD stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Persistent depressive disorder | Medical › Mental Health & Psychiatry |
| 2 | Pervasive developmental disorder | Medical › Mental Health & Psychiatry |
1. Persistent depressive disorder
Medical · Mental Health & Psychiatry Abbreviations
Chronic depression lasting at least two years in adults (one year in children and adolescents), with depressed mood on most days plus symptoms such as poor appetite, low energy, low self-esteem or hopelessness. It may be milder than major depression but its persistence causes substantial impairment.
Example: PDD with early onset, low mood most days since age 15; combine psychotherapy and SSRI.
DSM-5 (2013) created PDD by merging dysthymic disorder (dysthymia) with chronic major depressive disorder. Episodes of major depression on top of PDD are sometimes called "double depression". In older child psychiatry records PDD instead means pervasive developmental disorder, the former autism umbrella term.
2. Pervasive developmental disorder
Medical · Mental Health & Psychiatry Abbreviations
Former DSM-IV umbrella category for autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett's disorder and PDD-NOS (not otherwise specified). DSM-5 replaced most of these with the single diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in 2013.
Example: Records from 2008 show PDD-NOS; current evaluation confirms ASD level 1.
People diagnosed with a DSM-IV PDD before 2013 were to be given an ASD diagnosis under DSM-5. Rett syndrome is now recognized as a genetic neurological disorder rather than a psychiatric diagnosis. Since 2013 PDD more commonly means persistent depressive disorder, so the date of the record helps decide which is meant.
Related abbreviations
More mental health & psychiatry abbreviations
- OTP – Opioid treatment program
- OUD – Opioid use disorder
- PANSS – Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
- PCIT – Parent-child interaction therapy
- PCL-5 – PTSD Checklist for DSM-5
- PD – Panic disorder
- PE – Prolonged exposure therapy
- PHP – Partial hospitalization program
- PHQ-2 – Patient Health Questionnaire-2
- PHQ-9 – Patient Health Questionnaire-9
- PMDD – Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- PND – Postnatal depression
See all 100 mental health & psychiatry abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.