IOP, PHP, CBT, DBT… Acronym Overload!
There are a seemingly endless number of acronyms in medicine and mental health is no exception. These can make it faster to communicate but they can be confusing and overwhelming unless everyone understands them too!
Let’s take a look at the definitions of some acronyms we use most here at Transitions:
IOP: Intensive Outpatient Program
Definition: A treatment program that meets several times weekly over 8-12 weeks to provide rapid skill-building and more support than traditional outpatient therapy. This type of program is a great fit for people who haven’t experienced enough improvement with 1-hour of therapy per week. It’s also recommended for people whose symptoms are making it difficult to consistently meet major responsibilities like attending school or work.
PHP: Partial Hospitalization Program
Definition: A treatment program that meets every weekday over 4 to 6 weeks to provide robust skill-building and opportunities to practice in a highly supportive environment. This is called “partial hospitalization” because the program provides treatment like you would receive at a hospital, but it takes place in an outpatient setting. Participants return to their own homes and communities every day.
CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Definition: This is a type of treatment that focuses on understanding how thinking impacts feelings and actions. Participants learn how to critically examine thoughts and beliefs and change the way they respond to them. It is among the best researched approaches to treating a range of symptoms effectively.
DBT: Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Definition: This type of treatment helps people to learn skills to manage distress effectively and to build healthy relationships of all types. There is strong research support that this treatment works with a range of symptoms and concerns, which is why we use it often at Transitions.
