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decompensation

American  
[dee-kom-puhn-sey-shuhn] / ˌdi kɒm pənˈseɪ ʃən /

noun

  1. Medicine/Medical. the inability of a diseased heart to compensate for its defect.

  2. Psychology. a loss of ability to maintain normal or appropriate psychological defenses, sometimes resulting in depression, anxiety, or delusions.


decompensation British  
/ diːˌkɒmpɛnˈseɪʃən /

noun

  1. pathol inability of an organ, esp the heart, to maintain its function due to overload caused by a disease

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of decompensation

First recorded in 1900–05; de- + compensation

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In one use-of-force incident in 2017, a man on mental health decompensation watch banged his tray against the window of a medical observation unit, the report says.

From Seattle Times

Medical science now knows that many people living with long-term conditions such as heart, lung and liver diseases are tipped into decompensation and death by the coronavirus.

From Washington Post

This experience taught me that my son’s medical care for schizophrenic decompensation is not a priority call.

From Seattle Times

“Insomnia can be one of the first signs of decompensation in bipolar disorder. But if you feel your insomnia is caused by stress or jet lag or something else that’s temporary, you may not need to see a provider, but make some behavioral changes.”

From Seattle Times

“But what we’re ultimately worried about is heart decompensation and dangerous arrhythmias.”

From Scientific American