Decompensation

Decompensation

In medicine, decompensation is the functional deterioration of a previously working structure or system. Decompensation may occur due to fatigue, stress, illness, or old age. When a system is "compensated," it is able to function despite stressors or defects. Decompensation describes an inability to compensate for these deficiencies. It is a general term commonly used in medicine to describe a variety of situations.

For example, cardiac decompensation may refer to the failure of the heart to maintain adequate blood circulation, after long-standing (previously compensated) vascular disease (see heart failure). Short-term treatment of cardiac decompensation can be achieved through administration of dobutamine, resulting in an increase in heart contractility via an inotropic effect.

Psychology

In psychology, the term refers to the inability to maintain defense mechanisms in response to stress, resulting in personality disturbance or psychological imbalance. The evoking stress can be bullying, teasing, or physical aggression, to name a few examples.


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  • décompensation — [ dekɔ̃pɑ̃sasjɔ̃ ] n. f. • 1959; de dé et compensation ♦ Méd. Faillite des mécanismes régulateurs à la suite de laquelle les troubles dus à une malformation, à une maladie provoquent des perturbations très graves dans l organisme (ces… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • decompensation — 1900, from DE (Cf. de ) + COMPENSATION (Cf. compensation) …   Etymology dictionary

  • decompensation — [dē käm΄pən sā′shən] n. 1. failure of the heart muscle to compensate for a valvular or myocardial defect; heart failure 2. Psychiatry failure of defense mechanisms to prevent a mental disorder …   English World dictionary

  • decompensation — noun a) The inability of a diseased or weakened organic system or organ to compensate for its deficiency, resulting in functional deterioration. Once it was determined that hyperthyroidism was the probable etiology of her cardiac decompensation,… …   Wiktionary

  • decompensation — 1. A failure of compensation in heart disease. 2. The appearance or exacerbation of a mental disorder due to failure of defense mechanisms. corneal d. corneal …   Medical dictionary

  • Décompensation — En médecine, la décompensation désigne la dégradation, souvent brutale, d un organe ou d un organisme qui était jusqu alors maintenu en équilibre par des mécanismes de compensation qui empêchaient la survenue de ce dérèglement. Ce terme s… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • decompensation — dekompensacija statusas T sritis Kūno kultūra ir sportas apibrėžtis Organo ar viso organizmo veiklos nepakankamumas, atsirandantis sutrikus organizmo ir aplinkos pusiausvyrai, išsekus prisitaikymo vyksmams, reikalingiems įprastai ar jai artimai… …   Sporto terminų žodynas

  • decompensation phase — dekompensacijos fazė statusas T sritis Kūno kultūra ir sportas apibrėžtis Sportininko organizmo prisitaikymo prie fizinių krūvių tarpsnis, kuriuo pratybų krūviai yra labai intensyvūs, sudaro 80–90% didžiausiųjų, pulsas dažnesnis negu 170 k./min …   Sporto terminų žodynas

  • decompensation phase — dekompensacijos fazė statusas T sritis Kūno kultūra ir sportas apibrėžtis Viena iš darbingumo fazių – dirbančio organizmo funkcinės būsenos suprastėjimas nuo labai įtempto darbo: sutrinka judesių koordinacija, daugėja klaidų. atitikmenys: angl.… …   Sporto terminų žodynas

  • decompensation — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: circa 1903 loss of physiological or psychological compensation; especially inability of the heart to maintain adequate circulation • decompensate verb …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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