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Paris Hilton’s early release from prison was due to a medical emergency caused by decompensation, which occurs when a prescribed treatment fails and the patient experiences the original symptoms of their condition. Decompensation can occur in both physical and mental health conditions, and can lead to a psychotic break or nervous breakdown. However, with proper treatment and support, the effects of decompensation can be reversed.
When socialite Paris Hilton was unexpectedly removed from her prison cell after serving just three days, rumors of a psychotic break or a nervous breakdown were rampant. Several days later, a Corrections Department spokeswoman said Hilton had indeed experienced a medical emergency that she described as decompensating. Although medical professionals have been using the term for years, this was one of the first incidents where the term “decompensating” was applied very publicly.
Decompensation describes a situation in which a prescribed course of treatment for a known condition fails and the patient experiences the original side effects, pain, and complications of the condition. In other words, drugs or treatments intended to help the patient no longer protect him from relapses. This form of decompensation is often associated with heart patients who are not taking their medications. Once the drugs that keep the patient stable leave the system, the patient’s heart can begin to fail.
From a mental health perspective, if a patient suffering from chronic depression voluntarily stops taking antidepressants or is denied regular access to them, their brain can begin to decompensate. The sudden change in serotonin levels, for example, could plunge the patient into severe depression. Unless proper balance is restored quickly, the patient may continue a downward spiral as his mind continues to decompensate.
There are both physical and emotional symptoms that often indicate that a person may be emotionally decompensated. When denied regular access to a support network, such as during a time in detention, someone with a pre-existing mental or emotional condition may hallucinate. Under normal circumstances, these hallucinations or other thoughts could be controlled with psychotherapy sessions or medication. But when a person is cut off from these options, they can start to decompensate pretty quickly. The end result could actually be a psychotic break or a complete nervous breakdown. This was the concern that led to the corrections officers moving Paris Hilton out of her original prison cell.
The good news is that the effects of decompensation can often be reversed as soon as the patient’s normal regimen is restored. In Paris Hilton’s case, for example, she was able to complete her sentence without incident after receiving appropriate counseling and treatment for her condition. This is generally the goal for anyone receiving medical treatment for mental or emotional conditions. As long as the person continues to take their medications regularly or maintains a healthy support system, the risk of decompensation should be minimal.
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