MAT
Abbreviation with 4 meanings
| Stands for | Medication-assisted treatment |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 4 |
| Categories | Medical, Education & Academia |
MAT has four meanings. The most common are Medication-assisted treatment (mental health & psychiatry) and Master of Arts in Teaching (degree); it can also stand for Multifocal atrial tachycardia and Miller Analogies Test.
Meanings of MAT at a glance
| # | MAT stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medication-assisted treatment | Medical › Mental Health & Psychiatry |
| 2 | Master of Arts in Teaching | Education & Academia › Degree |
| 3 | Multifocal atrial tachycardia | Medical › Cardiology |
| 4 | Miller Analogies Test | Education & Academia › Standardized Test |
1. Medication-assisted treatment
Medical · Mental Health & Psychiatry Abbreviations
Older and still widespread term for treating substance use disorders, especially opioid use disorder, with FDA-approved medications combined with counseling and behavioral therapies. It is used in laws, grant programs and clinic names.
Example: Referred to the county MAT clinic for methadone induction and weekly counseling.
The Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act of 2023 ended the X-waiver for buprenorphine. Critics argue "assisted" wrongly implies that medication is secondary, which is why MOUD is now preferred. In cardiology MAT means multifocal atrial tachycardia.
2. Master of Arts in Teaching
Education & Academia · Degree Abbreviations
Graduate degree that prepares people who already hold a bachelor's degree in a subject to become licensed teachers, combining pedagogy coursework with a semester or year of student teaching. It is popular with career changers and recent graduates who did not major in education.
Example: After six years as a chemist, she enrolled in an MAT program to teach high school chemistry.
Written M.A.T. Compared with an MEd, the MAT focuses on initial licensure and classroom practice rather than advanced study for teachers who are already certified. Some schools offer an MST (Master of Science in Teaching) with the same purpose for science and math teachers.
3. Multifocal atrial tachycardia
Medical · Cardiology Abbreviations
Irregular rhythm faster than 100 beats per minute with at least three different P-wave shapes, reflecting several competing atrial sites. It typically occurs in severely ill older adults with COPD exacerbations, hypoxia, heart failure or electrolyte imbalance.
Example: Irregular rhythm at 120 with three distinct P-wave morphologies, likely MAT from COPD exacerbation.
MAT is often mistaken for atrial fibrillation because both are irregular, but MAT has a distinct P wave before each QRS. Treatment focuses on the lung disease, oxygenation and magnesium or potassium replacement, since cardioversion and most antiarrhythmics are ineffective. Theophylline toxicity is a classic trigger. At rates below 100 the pattern is called wandering atrial pacemaker.
4. Miller Analogies Test
Education & Academia · Standardized Test Abbreviations
Former graduate admissions test of 120 analogy questions in 60 minutes, published by Pearson and accepted mainly by education and psychology programs as an alternative to the GRE. Pearson retired it in November 2023.
Example: An older application packet still lists the MAT as an alternative to the GRE for the counseling program.
Scores were reported on a scale of 200 to 600. The test, created by psychologist W. S. Miller at the University of Minnesota in the 1920s, was also accepted by some high-IQ societies as qualifying evidence. In education, MAT more often means the Master of Arts in Teaching degree.
Related abbreviations
More mental health & psychiatry abbreviations
- IOP – Intensive outpatient program
- IPT – Interpersonal psychotherapy
- IVC – Involuntary commitment
- LAI – Long-acting injectable
- MDD – Major depressive disorder
- MDE – Major depressive episode
- MH – Mental health
- MI – Motivational interviewing
See all 100 mental health & psychiatry abbreviations →
More degree abbreviations
- MAcc – Master of Accountancy
- MALS – Master of Arts in Liberal Studies
- MAR – Master of Arts in Religion
- MArch – Master of Architecture
- MBA – Master of Business Administration
- MBBS – Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
- MCh – Magister Chirurgiae (Master of Surgery)
- MCP – Master of City Planning
See all 139 degree abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.