CAPS Medical Abbreviation: 4 Distinct Meanings in Clinical Practice

CAPS is a context-dependent acronym with four established medical meanings:

Expansion	Domain	Description
Calcium and Parathyroid Hormone Studies	Endocrinology / Lab Medicine	Panel: total Ca²⁺, ionized Ca²⁺, PTH, 25-OH Vit D, phosphate, magnesium, albumin, creatinine. Evaluates calcium homeostasis (hyper/hypocalcemia, hyperparathyroidism, CKD-MBD).
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services	Psychiatry / Healthcare Systems	Specialized mental health services for ages 5–18 (varies). Includes assessment, therapy, medication management, crisis intervention, neurodevelopmental pathways (ASD, ADHD). Often tiered: primary (school-based) → specialist (CAMHS/CAPS).
Complex Atypical Partial Seizures	Neurology / Epilepsy	Historical term (pre-2017 ILAE classification). Now: Focal impaired awareness seizures with atypical features (prolonged, clustering, secondary generalization). Semiology: automatisms, affective/autonomic features, versive movements.
CADASIL	Neurogenetics	Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy. NOTCH3 mutation. Mid-adult onset: migraine with aura, recurrent lacunar strokes, mood disturbance, cognitive decline, early dementia. MRI: confluent WMH, anterior temporal pole involvement (pathognomonic).

Disambiguation

• Lab order "CAPS panel" → Calcium/PTH studies.
• Referral "to CAPS" → Child/Adolescent Psych Services.
• EEG report "CAPS" → Historical seizure descriptor (clarify with current ILAE terms).
• Genetics/neurology note "CAPS" → CADASIL (usually written out or as CADASIL).

Related Acronyms

• CRP / hs-CRP — C-reactive protein (not CAPS).
• CAP — Community-Acquired Pneumonia; College of American Pathologists; Catheter-Associated Peritonitis.
• CAPP — Chronic Abdominal Pain Program; Canadian Association of Pediatric Pathologists.

Always spell out on first use in clinical documentation.