decompensation

[ dee-kom-puhn-sey-shuhn ]

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

/ diːˌkɒmpɛnˈseɪʃən /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of decompensation¹

First recorded in 1900–05; de- + compensation

Example Sentences

Because this is a horror movie, the Sawyers respond to neglect with a hyperbolic strain of violently deranged decompensation, treating the humans stranded on their land as livestock.

From Slate

This contrast between Biden's steady leadership and Trump's mental decompensation is only going to get starker now that Trump's first criminal trial is finally underway in a Manhattan courtroom.

From Salon

"As for 'decompensation," this requires that Trump is a somewhat normal person living in a state that allows for a decline into this condition.

From Salon

As for "decompensation"...this requires that Trump is a somewhat normal person living in a state that allows for a decline into this condition.

From Salon

Those who have concluded that he is decompensating are correct, though it would be more precise to say that the decompensation consists of exposing an inability to see reality and violent self-interest that has always been who he is.

From Salon