Acopia

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Acopia means "inability to cope" and is often used as a euphemistic medical term which is used to denote psychosocial inability to function in a person's usual home environment (usually leading to presentation to a hospital), without there being a discrete medical or psychiatric problem causing the acute presentation.

[edit] Common causes of acopia

Acopia is in some ways a diagnosis of exclusion as it is the lack of obvious pathology in the face of a deterioration of function. It is better thought of as a symptom of an underlying problem rather than an actual disease.

Usually the above implies that there is a social problem such as:

• Inability or unwillingness of family members to care adequately for the patient (for whatever reason)
• Inappropriate or unsafe home environment eg low level vs high level residential care

Other medical presentations that are sometimes given as examples of acopia include:

• Increased falls (though investigation of falls is in fact a legitimate reason for admission)
• Decline in mobility (though similarly to increased falls, investigation of this is in fact a legitimate reason for admission)
• Increasing unexplained pain

[edit] Treatment of acopia

Despite the above definition of acopia as lacking an obvious cause, the treatment of acopia relies on proper identification of the cause for decline in function and ability to cope.
Treatment therefore may range from arranging appropriate placement (such as within a aged care facility) to imaging, surgery or medication.

[edit] Controversy

While acopia is at times cited as a working diagnosis or reason for admission, it is not an accepted medical condition due to its nebulous nature, downplaying of potential underlying medical or psychological causes for the decline in function and increased potential for failure to investigate true medical complaints, and therefore is actively discouraged as a diagnosis for admission to hospital.