ACEs
Medical abbreviation · Mental Health & Psychiatry
| Stands for | Adverse childhood experiences |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
ACEs stands for Adverse childhood experiences, a mental health & psychiatry abbreviation.
Potentially traumatic events before age 18, including abuse, neglect and household challenges such as domestic violence, substance use, mental illness, parental separation or incarceration. Higher numbers of ACEs are linked in a dose-response manner to adult heart disease, depression, substance use and early death.
Example: ACE score 6; trauma-informed care plan and referral to family support services.
Usage notes
The landmark CDC-Kaiser Permanente ACE Study surveyed over 17,000 adults between 1995 and 1997, and its first results were published in 1998. The original questionnaire counts 10 categories. About two-thirds of US adults report at least one ACE. Critics caution that ACE scores predict population risk better than individual outcomes.
Related abbreviations
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.