decompensate

[ dee-kom-puhn-seyt ]

verb (used without object)

, de·com·pen·sat·ed, de·com·pen·sat·ing.

1. Psychology. to lose the ability to maintain normal or appropriate psychological defenses, sometimes resulting in depression, anxiety, or delusions.

Word History and Origins

Origin of decompensate¹

de- + compensate ( def 6 )

Example Sentences

Ultimately, he may decompensate to the point of gross paranoid psychosis with even more obvious incitement to riots and civil war rather than accept the reality that he has been finally held accountable.

From Salon

Ultimately, he may decompensate to the point of gross paranoid psychosis with even more obvious incitement to riots and civil war rather than accept the reality that he has been finally held accountable.

From Salon

As we watch Amy slowly decompensate, trapped between her boarded-up windows and creepy basement, it’s unclear whether her most urgent threat will come from without or within.

From New York Times

And staying institutionalized for longer than necessary can cause people to decompensate and come off the discharge list.

From Seattle Times

“I am sick about it that so much time has elapsed and we are seeing children and adolescents decompensate to the point of needing hospitalizations and ICU care in these increasing numbers.”

From Seattle Times

More About Decompensate

What does decompensate mean?

To decompensate means to lose the ability to maintain one’s state of mental health, typically due to some kind of stress.

The word decompensate is most often applied to someone who is having a breakdown in their mental health mechanisms, especially someone who has an existing mental illness or psychological condition.

Example: If the patient loses their normal support system, they may decompensate, resulting in an aggravation of their condition.

Where does decompensate come from?

Decompensate is a combination of the prefix de-, indicating reversal or negation, and the word compensate, which comes from the Latin word compēnsāre, which means to “counterbalance.”

This balance is what is lost when someone decompensates. In psychology, compensation is the term for when someone tries to make up for a real or imagined flaw in their personality or behavior by emphasizing another part of their personality or substituting another behavior. Decompensating is not quite the opposite of this sense of compensation. Instead, it is the loss of an ability to cope, especially due to stress that causes symptoms to get worse. When this happens, someone who is decompensating often starts to have difficulty with normal life activities. The decompensation can then result in depression, anxiety, or delusions. There are different signs that can indicate that a person is decompensating. Depending on their condition, they may act withdrawn, suddenly irritable, or restless, or they may have a lack of motivation. It is important to be aware of such changes in yourself and others so that steps can be taken to maintain mental wellness.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of decompensate?

• decompensation (noun)

What are some words that share a root or word element with decompensate? 

• compensate
• compensation
• decommission

What are some words that often get used in discussing decompensate?

• defense mechanism
• psychology
• depression
• anxiety
• delusion

How is decompensate used in real life?

Decompensate is most commonly used in the context of psychology, especially in discussion of what factors can result in certain people losing the ability to maintain their mental health.

I've been called "selfish" and "self-centered" because I follow my treatment plan.

If I don't engage in my daily self-care routine, I can decompensate.

Following my treatment plan is in fact, an act of selfless love. I do this for my family, friends, everyone else, and myself. pic.twitter.com/J7lC9HJzjy

— The Bipolar Battle (@BipolarBattle) December 7, 2019

"Waiting for a student with predictable vulnerabilities to emotionally decompensate or become socially marginalized before providing services is a practical and moral failure." https://t.co/eDQWeDfTnV

— Mark Anderson (@mandercorn) February 28, 2020

I'm a doctor with some psychiatry training & I agree there is marked cognitive decline. I would add confabulation & reduced vocabulary as well as some diminished situational awareness. This is quite upsetting – the stress might make him decompensate, it's not good for him.

— Rosalie🌹 (@hourglassrebel) February 25, 2020

 

 

Try using decompensate!

True or false? 

The following symptoms may be seen in someone who is decompensating: increased anxiety, excess tiredness, lack of motivation, and increased irritability.