desensitization

de·sen·si·tize

D0157600 (dē-sĕn′sĭ-tīz′)tr.v. de·sen·si·tized, de·sen·si·tiz·ing, de·sen·si·tiz·es 1. To render insensitive or less sensitive.2. Immunology To make (an individual) nonreactive or insensitive to an antigen.3. To make emotionally insensitive or unresponsive, as by long exposure or repeated shocks: "This movie in effect may resensitize people who thought they were desensitized to violence" (Steven Spielberg).4. To make (a photographic film or substance) less sensitive to light.

de·sen′si·ti·za′tion (-tĭ-zā′shən) n.de·sen′si·tiz′er n.

de•sen•si•ti•za•tion

(diˌsɛn sɪ təˈzeɪ ʃən)

n. 1. the act or process of desensitizing. 2. the reduction or elimination of an allergic reaction or psychological oversensitivity to an external stimulus by controlled repeated exposure to the stimulus. [1920–25]

Thesaurus

Noun

desensitization - the process of reducing sensitivity; "the patient was desensitized to the allergen"desensitisationdecrease, decrement - a process of becoming smaller or shorter

Translations

απευαισθητοποίησηdesensibilizzazione

Desensitization

desensitization

[dē‚sen·sə·tə′zā·shən] (communications) Reduction in receiver sensitivity due to the presence of a high-level off-channel signal overloading the radio-frequency amplifier or mixer stages, or causing automatic gain control action. (immunology) Loss or reduction of sensitivity to infection or an allergen accomplished by means of frequent, small doses of the antigen. Also known as hyposensitization. (psychology) Relief from or removal of a mental complex.

Desensitization

(biology), reduction or elimination of increased sensitivity (sensitization) of the organism to repeated introduction of a foreign substance (allergen), most often protein in nature. Upon introduction into the organism of a foreign protein, a specific substance, an antibody, is formed, whose interaction with the protein when it is repeatedly introduced may produce serum sickness or other forms of allergic reactions. Sulfur preparations, aloe, antihistamines, and other antihistamine-antiserotonins possess desensitizing properties.

Desensitization as a method of treating allergic diseases is used, in particular, to prevent serum anaphylaxis from repeated injections of serum preparations (for example, antidiphtheria serum), in accordance with the method proposed in 1907 by the Russian scientist A. M. Bezredka. The method consists in injecting small concentrations of the preparation (the antigen) that produced the sensitization; as a result, a state of antianaphylaxis arises, that is, desensitization. Owing to this, the next injection of the reacting dose of the allergen does not produce anaphylaxis. Allergic diseases (for instance, bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis) are treated by specific desensitization (if the allergen causing the disease is known), nonspecific desensitization, and complex desensitization. Specific desensitization is especially effective in treating nonbacterial allergies, primarily in pollinoses (hay fever), but it is also successfully used in bacterial sensitization (for example, in treating chronic tonsillitis, tonsillogenic intoxication, and rheumatism). Specific desensitization is performed by intradermal injection of the specific allergen, beginning with a 1:1,000,000 dilution of one cutaneous dose of the specific allergen, and gradually increasing its concentration to 1:10 of one cutaneous dose (the final dilution). If the specific antigen is not found, nonspecific desensitization treatment with antihistamines (for instance, dimedrol, Diprazin, and suprastin), and hormonal preparations are used, (corticosteroid hormones, such as hydrocortisone and prednisolone) as well as physiotherapy and balneotherapy. Complex desensitization, which combines specific and nonspecific desensitizing preparations, is often used.

REFERENCES

Allergiia i allergicheskie zabolevaniia, vols. 1–2. Edited by E. Rajka. Budapest, 1966. (Translated from German.)
Rost, G. A., D. G. R. Findeisen, and I. Niemand-Andersen. Praktikum der allergischen Krankheiten. Leipzig, 1958. Pages 116–31, 196–241.

A. KH. KANCHURIN, P. P. SAKHAROV, and IU. A. FADEEV

Desensitization

in photography, a reduction in the light sensitivity of photographic materials under the influence of the substances adsorbed on the halide crystals of the emulsion. Most of the sensitizer dyes and a number of other substances exhibit a desensitizing effect in the range of specific sensitivity for silver halide (λ = 500 millimicrons and lower). Many antifogging agents also act as desensitizers, specifically potassium bromide and some special desensitizers (such as green pinakriptol), which selectively lower the additional sensitivity in the long-wave region. Their inclusion in the developer makes it feasible to begin to develop the sensitized materials in darkness and to end the developing under relatively strong lighting. This sequence affords visual monitoring of the process.

desensitization

[de-sen″sĭ-tĭ-za´shun] 1. the prevention or reduction of hypersensitivity" >immediate hypersensitivity by administration of graded doses of allergen; see also immunotherapy. Called also hyposensitization.2. in behavior therapy, the treatment of phobias" >phobias and related disorders by intentionally exposing the patient, in imagination or in real life, to a hierarchy of emotionally distressing stimuli.

de·sen·si·tiz·a·tion

(dē-sen'si-ti-zā'shŭn), 1. The reduction or abolition of allergic sensitivity or reactions to the specific antigen (allergen). Synonym(s): antianaphylaxis2. The act of removing an emotional complex. Synonym(s): hyposensitization

de·sen·si·tiz·a·tion

(dē-sen'si-tī-zā'shŭn) 1. The reduction or abolition of allergic sensitivity or reactions to the specific antigen (allergen).
Synonym(s): antianaphylaxis, desensitisation. 2. The act of removing an emotional complex.

desensitization

1. A method of treating allergy by injecting very small, but gradually increasing, doses of the substance to which the affected person is allergic. 2. A form of BEHAVIOUR THERAPY.

Desensitization

A treatment for phobias which involves exposing the phobic person to the feared situation. It is often used in conjunction with relaxation techniques.Mentioned in: Agoraphobia, Neuralgia

de·sen·si·tiz·a·tion

(dē-sen'si-tī-zā'shŭn) 1. The reduction or abolition of allergic sensitivity or reactions to the specific antigen (allergen).
Synonym(s): desensitisation. 2. The act of removing an emotional complex.

desensitization

de·sen·si·tize

de•sen•si•ti•za•tion

Desensitization

desensitization

Desensitization

REFERENCES

Desensitization

desensitization

desensitization

de·sen·si·tiz·a·tion

de·sen·si·tiz·a·tion

desensitization

Desensitization

de·sen·si·tiz·a·tion

desensitization

Synonyms for desensitization

noun the process of reducing sensitivity

Synonyms

Related Words