In medicine, decompensation is the functional deterioration of a structure or system that had been previously working with the help of compensation. 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.
Medical term[edit]
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.[1]
Kidney failure can also occur following a slow degradation of kidney function due to an underlying untreated illness; the symptoms of the latter can then become much more severe due to the lack of efficient compensation by the kidney.
Psychology[edit]
In psychology, the term refers to an individual's loss of healthy defense mechanisms in response to stress, resulting in personality disturbance or psychological imbalance.[2][3][4]
References[edit]
- ^ Joseph; et al. (2009). "Acute Decompensated Heart Failure". Texas Heart Institute Journal. 36 (6): 510–20. PMC 2801958. PMID 20069075.
- ^ Carol D Tamparo; Marcia A Lewis (2011). Diseases of the Human Body. F.A. Davis Company. pp. 527. ISBN 978-0803625051.
- ^ "Free Dictionary". Free Dictionary. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- ^ Theodore Millon (2011). Disorders of Personality:Introducing a DSM / ICD Spectrum from Normal to Abnormal 3rd Edition. Wiley. pp. 407–408. ISBN 978-0470040935.
External links[edit]
- Heffner, C.L. (2001). Psychology 101. Archived 3 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- Tucker-Ladd, C.E. (1996-2000). Psychological Self-Help.