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Version: 2.2.2 | March 2025
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Mental Health Body Parts

All diagnoses related to: Mental Health

Anxiety Disorders

Bereavement

Dermatofibroma

Eating Disorders

Insomnia

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Schizophrenia

Somatic symptom disorders

What is Nursing in Practice Reference?

Based on the best-selling book Symptom Sorter, Nursing in Practice Reference is designed to help nurses working in primary and community care make sense of patient presentations. Written by GPs and adapted by nurses, it covers the vast majority of symptoms seen in primary care to inform different nursing disciplines with a range of responsibilities. Each symptom is organised into common, occasional or rare differentials, with distinguishing features, possible investigations and key points. It also provides guides on managing more than 350 conditions. The perspective is very much grass roots primary care, informed by the latest evidence and guidance.

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Disclaimer

Nursing in Practice Reference is based on the best-selling book Symptom Sorter. The experts behind Nursing in Practice Reference are Marilyn Eveleigh who is Nursing in Practice’s editorial advisor and a primary care nurse in East Sussex, Dr Keith Hopcroft who is the co-author of Symptom Sorter, a GP in Essex and Pulse editorial advisor and Dr Poppy Freeman, a GP in Camden and also a clinical advisor to Pulse.

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Key
Abbreviations
  • A&E Accident and emergency
  • ABPI Ankle brachial pressure index
  • ACE Angiotensin-converting enzyme
  • ACR Albumin creatinine ratio
  • ACTH Adrenocorticotrophic hormone
  • ADH Antidiuretic hormone
  • AF Atrial fibrillation
  • AFP α fetoprotein
  • ALT Alanine-amino transferase
  • Anti-CCP Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide
  • ANUG Acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis
  • ARC AIDS-related complex
  • ASO Antistreptolysin
  • AST Aspartate-amino transferase
  • BCC Basal cell carcinoma
  • BNP B type natriuretic peptide
  • BP Blood pressure
  • BPH Benign prostatic hypertrophy
  • BTB Breakthrough bleeding
  • BV Bacterial vaginosis
  • BXO Balanitis xerotica obliterans
  • CA-125 Cancer antigen 125
  • CCF Congestive cardiac failure
  • CKD Chronic kidney disease
  • CMPI Cow’s milk protein intolerance
  • CNS Central nervous system
  • COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • CPK Creatine phosphokinase
  • CREST Calcinosis/Raynaud’s phenomenon/oesophagealdys motility/sclerodactyly/ telangiectasia
  • CRP C-reactive protein
  • CSF Cerebrospinal fluid
  • CT Carpal tunnel
  • CT Computed tomography
  • CVA Cerebrovascular accident
  • CXR Chest X-ray
  • D&C Dilatation and curettage
  • DIC Disseminated intravascular coagulation
  • DKA Diabetic ketoacidosis
  • DM Diabetes mellitus
  • DU Duodenal ulcer
  • DUB Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
  • DVT Deep vein thrombosis
  • DXA Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
  • EAM External auditory meatus
  • EBV Epstein–Barr virus
  • ECG Electrocardiogram
  • EEG Electroencephalogram
  • ELISA Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
  • EMG Electromyography
  • EMU Early morning urine (sample)
  • ENT Ear, nose and throat
  • EO Epididymo-orchitis
  • ERCP Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticogram
  • ESR Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
  • ET Eustachian tube
  • FBC Full blood count
  • FIT Faecal immunochemical test
  • FSH Follicle-stimulating hormone
  • γGT Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase
  • GAD Generalised anxiety disorder
  • GF Glandular fever
  • GI Gastrointestinal
  • GI Granuloma inguinale
  • GnRH Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone
  • GORD Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
  • GUM Genito-urinary medicine
  • Hb Haemoglobin
  • HCG Human chorionic gonadotrophin
  • 5HIAA 5-hydroxy-indole-acetic acid
  • HIV Human immunodeficiency virus
  • HLA Human leucocyte antigen
  • HRT Hormone-replacement therapy
  • HSV Herpes simplex virus
  • HVS High vaginal swab
  • IBD Inflammatory bowel disease
  • IBS Irritable bowel syndrome
  • IC Intermittent claudication
  • IGTN Ingrowing toenail
  • IHD Ischaemic heart disease
  • INR International normalised ratio
  • ITP Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura
  • IUCD Intrauterine contraceptive device
  • IVP Intravenous pyelogram
  • IVU Intravenous urogram
  • JCA Juvenile chronic arthritis
  • LFT Liver function tests
  • LGV Lymphogranuloma venereum
  • LH Luteinising hormone
  • LMP Last menstrual period
  • LN Lymph node
  • LRTI Lower respiratory tract infection
  • LSD Lysergic acid diethylamide
  • LUTS Lower urinary tract symptoms
  • LVF Left ventricular failure
  • MAOI Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
  • MC&S Microscopy, culture and sensitivity
  • MCV Mean cell volume
  • MI Myocardial infarction
  • MMR Measles, mumps, rubella
  • MRI Magnetic resonance imaging
  • MS Multiple sclerosis
  • MSU Mid-stream urine (sample)
  • NAI Non-accidental injury
  • NICE National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
  • NSAID Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
  • OA Osteoarthritis
  • OE Otitis externa
  • O/E On examination
  • OG Onychogryphosis
  • OGD Oesophago-gastro duodenoscopy
  • OM Otitis media
  • OTC Over the counter
  • PAN Polyarteritis nodosa
  • PCOS Polycystic ovary syndrome
  • PCR Protein creatinine ratio
  • PCV Packed cell volume
  • PE Pulmonary embolism
  • PEFR Peak expiratory flow rate
  • PF Proctalgia fugax
  • PID Pelvic inflammatory disease
  • PMR Polymyalgia rheumatica
  • PMT Pre-menstrual tension
  • PR Per rectum
  • PRIST Paper radioimmunosorbent disc test
  • PSA Prostate-specific antigen
  • PTH Parathyroid hormone
  • PU Peptic ulcer
  • PUO Pyrexia of unknown origin
  • PV Per vagina
  • PVE Per vaginal examination
  • PVD Peripheral vascular disease
  • RA Rheumatoid arthritis
  • RAST Radioallergosorbent test
  • RAU Recurrent aphthous ulceration
  • RLS Restless legs syndrome
  • RUQ Right upper quadrant
  • SA Septic arthritis
  • SCC Squamous cell carcinoma
  • SHBG Serum hormone binding globulin
  • SLE Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • SOB Shortness of breath
  • STD Sexually transmitted disease
  • SVT Supraventricular tachycardia
  • TAH Total abdominal hysterectomy
  • TATT ‘tired all the time’
  • TB Tuberculosis
  • TCA Tricyclic antidepressant
  • TFT Thyroid function tests
  • TIA Transient ischaemic attack
  • TMJ Temporomandibular joint
  • TN Trigeminal neuralgia
  • TSH Thyroid-stimulating hormone
  • TURP Transurethral resection of prostate
  • TV Trichomonal vaginosis
  • U&E Urea and electrolytes
  • URTI Upper respiratory tract infection
  • UTI Urinary tract infection
  • UV Ultraviolet
  • VMA Vanillyl-mandelic acid
  • VT Ventricular tachycardia
  • WCC White cell count
  • WRULD Work-related upper limb disorder