IED
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Improvised explosive device |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Military, Medical |
IED has two meanings. It stands for Improvised explosive device (military term) or Intermittent explosive disorder (mental health & psychiatry).
Meanings of IED at a glance
| # | IED stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Improvised explosive device | Military › Military Term |
| 2 | Intermittent explosive disorder | Medical › Mental Health & Psychiatry |
1. Improvised explosive device
Military · Military Term Abbreviations
Homemade bomb built from military munitions, commercial explosives or fertilizer, triggered by wires, pressure plates, cell phones or remote controls. Roadside IEDs were the leading cause of US combat deaths and injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Example: An IED hidden in a culvert struck the lead vehicle of the convoy.
The threat led the Pentagon to create the Joint IED Defeat Organization in 2006 and to buy thousands of mine-resistant MRAP vehicles. Variants include vehicle-borne IEDs (VBIEDs), suicide vests and explosively formed penetrators (EFPs) that can pierce armor. Route clearance teams, jammers and bomb-sniffing dogs were key countermeasures. Pronounced as letters.
2. Intermittent explosive disorder
Medical · Mental Health & Psychiatry Abbreviations
Recurrent impulsive aggressive outbursts, verbal or physical, that are grossly out of proportion to any provocation and not premeditated, causing distress or legal and social problems. It usually begins in late childhood or adolescence.
Example: IED with road rage incidents and property damage; start CBT anger management and fluoxetine.
Diagnosis requires an age of at least six years and that the outbursts are not better explained by another condition such as bipolar disorder, a personality disorder or substance use. CBT focused on relaxation and cognitive restructuring is helpful. In military and news contexts IED far more often means improvised explosive device.
Related abbreviations
More military term abbreviations
- HUMINT – Human intelligence
- HVT – High-value target
- HYT – High year tenure
- IDP – Imminent danger pay
- IFAK – Individual first aid kit
- IFF – Identification friend or foe
- IG – Inspector General
- IMINT – Imagery intelligence
See all 248 military term abbreviations →
More mental health & psychiatry abbreviations
- GD – Gender dysphoria
- HAM-D – Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression
- HI – Homicidal ideation
- ID – Intellectual disability
- IOP – Intensive outpatient program
- IPT – Interpersonal psychotherapy
- IVC – Involuntary commitment
- LAI – Long-acting injectable
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.