MDE
Medical abbreviation · Mental Health & Psychiatry
| Stands for | Major depressive episode |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
MDE stands for Major depressive episode, a mental health & psychiatry abbreviation.
Period of at least two weeks meeting full criteria for depression, the building block for diagnosing major depressive disorder and one of the episodes that make up bipolar II disorder. National surveys measure past-year MDE to estimate how common depression is.
Example: Current MDE in context of bipolar II disorder; avoid antidepressant monotherapy, start lamotrigine.
Usage notes
An MDE occurring in someone with a history of mania or hypomania leads to a bipolar diagnosis rather than MDD, which changes treatment. The US National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports past-year MDE for adults and adolescents. Pronounced as letters.
Related abbreviations
More mental health & psychiatry abbreviations
- IOP – Intensive outpatient program
- IPT – Interpersonal psychotherapy
- IVC – Involuntary commitment
- LAI – Long-acting injectable
- MAT – Medication-assisted treatment
- MDD – Major depressive disorder
- MH – Mental health
- MI – Motivational interviewing
- MOUD – Medications for opioid use disorder
- MPD – Multiple personality disorder
- MSE – Mental status examination
- NCD – Neurocognitive disorder
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.