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.

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decompensation British  

/ diːˌkɒmpɛnˈseɪʃən /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of decompensation

First recorded in 1900–05; de- + compensation

Example Sentences

The F.B.I. said it had briefed the Virginia Beach Police Department on its findings, which noted that the gunman had experienced “significant mental health stressors” that “appeared to have contributed in part to his decompensation in advance of the attack.”

From New York Times

“Our candidate @PedroCastilloTe is being rushed to a clinic in Lima due to a respiratory decompensation. Today’s scheduled activities are suspended,” the party said.

From Reuters

What could possibly save our country from this man's decompensation before our eyes?

From Salon

During his one-person White House Rose Garden campaign rally last Tuesday, Donald Trump continued his public downward spiral of mental decompensation as he spouted more lies and conspiracy theories, made vicious attacks on Joe Biden and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, engaged in more self-aggrandizement, undermined the country's public health with his lies about the coronavirus, claimed that Biden and the Democrats want to destroy "the suburbs," and overall behaved as though he was auditioning for the role of Mad King in a made for TV movie.

From Salon

Trump’s mental decompensation and associated downward spiral will only get worse.

From Salon