| % CI | percentage confidence interval |
| ADHD | attention deficit hyperactivity disorder |
| AMPA | α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid |
| APA | American Psychiatric Association |
| BDD | body dysmorphic disorder |
| BIND | benzodiazepine-induced neurological dysfunction |
| BNF | British National Formulary |
| BZD | benzodiazepine |
| BzRAs | benzodiazepine receptor agonists |
| CABG | coronary artery bypass graft |
| CANMAT | Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments |
| CBT | cognitive behavioural therapy |
| CBT-I | cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia |
| CFS | chronic fatigue syndrome |
| CNS | central nervous system |
| COPD | chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| CR | controlled release |
| CSM | Committee on the Safety of Medicines |
| DAT | dopamine transporter |
| DAWSS | Discriminatory Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptom Scale |
| DESS | discontinuation-emergent signs and symptoms |
| DSM-III-R | Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 3rd revised edition |
| DSM-V | Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th revised edition |
| EMA | European Medicines Agency |
| EMPOWER | Eliminating Medications Through Patient Ownership of End Results |
| ER | extended release |
| FDA | US Food and Drugs Administration |
| FND | functional neurological disorder |
| GABA | gamma-aminobutyric acid |
| GABAA | gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor |
| GAD | generalised anxiety disorder |
| GMC | General Medical Council |
| GP | general practitioner |
| HAM-A | Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale |
| HAM-D | Hamilton Depression Rating Scale |
| HPA | hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal |
| IBS | irritable bowel syndrome |
| ICD-10-CM | The International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification |
| IR | immediate-release |
| LGIB | lower gastrointestinal bleeds |
| MADRS | Montgomery-&angstsberg Depression Rating Scale |
| MAO | monoamine oxidase |
| MAOI | monoamine oxidase inhibitor |
| MB-CT | mindfulness based cognitive therapy |
| MDD | major depressive disorder |
| MDMA | 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine |
| MHRA | Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency |
| MMSE | Mini Mental State Examination |
| MUS | medically unexplained symptoms |
| NaSSAs | noradrenaline and specific serotonergic antidepressants |
| NET | noradrenaline transporter |
| NEWT | North East Wales NHS Trust |
| NGO | non-governmental organisation |
| NHS | National Health Service |
| NICE | National Institute for Health and Care Excellence |
| NIDA | National Institute on Drug Abuse |
| NMDA | N-methyl-D-aspartate |
| NNT | number needed to treat |
| NPS | National Prescribing Service |
| OCD | obsessive compulsive disorder |
| ODV | O-desmethylvenlafaxine |
| ONS | Office of National Statistics |
| OR | odds ratio |
| PAWS | post-acute withdrawal syndrome |
| PD | panic disorder |
| PET | positron-emission tomography |
| PIL | patient information leaflet |
| PPWS | persistent post-withdrawal syndrome |
| PSSD | post-SSRI sexual dysfunction |
| PTSD | post-traumatic stress disorder |
| PWS | persistent withdrawal symptoms |
| RCPsych | Royal College of Psychiatrists |
| RCT | randomised controlled trial |
| RIMA | reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A |
| RLS | restless leg syndrome |
| RO | receptor occupancy |
| RPS | Royal Pharmaceutical Society |
| SAD | social anxiety disorder |
| SARI | serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors |
| SERT | serotonin transporter |
| SIADH | syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone |
| SMD | standardised mean difference |
| SmPC | summary of product characteristics |
| SNRI | serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor |
| SR | sustained-release |
| SSRI | selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor |
| STOPP | Screening Tool of Older Persons' Prescriptions |
| TCAs | tricyclic antidepressants |
| TI | The Therapeutics Initiative |
| TIA | transient ischaemic attack |
| UGIB | upper gastrointestinal bleeds |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
| XR or XL | extended-release |
| Z-drugs | nonbenzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics |