decompensation

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.

noun

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

n.

1900, from de- + compensation.

n.

1. Failure of the heart to maintain adequate blood circulation, marked by labored breathing, engorged blood vessels, and edema.
2. The appearance or exacerbation of a mental disorder due to failure of defense mechanisms.