PPD
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Postpartum depression |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Medical |
PPD has three meanings. The most common are Postpartum depression (mental health & psychiatry) and Packs per day (medical documentation); it can also stand for Purified protein derivative (tuberculin skin test).
Meanings of PPD at a glance
| # | PPD stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Postpartum depression | Medical › Mental Health & Psychiatry |
| 2 | Packs per day | Medical › Medical Documentation |
| 3 | Purified protein derivative (tuberculin skin test) | Medical › Infectious Disease |
1. Postpartum depression
Medical · Mental Health & Psychiatry Abbreviations
Depression occurring during pregnancy or after childbirth, more severe and longer lasting than the common "baby blues". It affects about one in eight new mothers in the US and can impair bonding, infant care and safety; screening at prenatal and pediatric visits is recommended.
Example: EPDS 18 at 6-week postpartum visit, no SI: PPD, start sertraline (compatible with breastfeeding) and therapy.
DSM-5 uses the specifier "with peripartum onset" for episodes starting during pregnancy or within four weeks of delivery, though clinicians generally consider the first year. Baby blues affect most mothers and resolve within about two weeks. Brexanolone (2019) and oral zuranolone (2023) are the first drugs approved specifically for PPD. In TB testing PPD means purified protein derivative, and in social histories packs per day.
2. Packs per day
Medical · Medical Documentation Abbreviations
Measure of cigarette smoking recorded in social histories, such as "1 PPD", meaning about 20 cigarettes a day. It is multiplied by years smoked to calculate pack-years.
Example: SH: smokes 1.5 PPD x 30 years (45 pack-years), interested in quitting.
Also written ppd. In infectious disease the same letters mean purified protein derivative, the tuberculin skin test, so "PPD negative" refers to TB testing rather than smoking. Asking about e-cigarettes, cigars and smokeless tobacco separately gives a fuller picture.
3. Purified protein derivative (tuberculin skin test)
Medical · Infectious Disease Abbreviations
Extract of tuberculin injected into the skin of the forearm to test for TB infection; the raised, hardened area (induration) is measured 48–72 hours later. Thresholds of 5, 10 or 15 mm apply depending on a person's risk.
Example: PPD placed left forearm Monday, read Wednesday: 14 mm induration, refer for chest X-ray.
The test is formally the Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST), and PPD names the reagent. Previous BCG vaccination and some nontuberculous mycobacteria can cause false positives, which is one reason interferon-gamma release assays are often preferred. In psychiatry and obstetrics PPD means postpartum depression, and in social histories packs per day.
Related abbreviations
More mental health & psychiatry abbreviations
- PHQ-2 – Patient Health Questionnaire-2
- PHQ-9 – Patient Health Questionnaire-9
- PMDD – Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- PND – Postnatal depression
- PTSD – Post-traumatic stress disorder
- RAD – Reactive attachment disorder
- SA – Suicide attempt
- SAD – Seasonal affective disorder
See all 100 mental health & psychiatry abbreviations →
More medical documentation abbreviations
- PMH – Past medical history
- PN – Progress note
- POA – Present on admission
- POC – Plan of care
- ppx – Prophylaxis
- PSH – Past surgical history
- Pt – Patient
- PTA – Prior to admission
See all 79 medical documentation abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.