dysregulative

Dysregulative is an adjective used to describe processes, patterns, or responses that are improperly regulated or show abnormal regulation. It is used across disciplines to indicate deviations from typical homeostatic control of physiological, cognitive, or behavioral systems.

In psychology and psychiatry, dysregulative patterns refer to emotional, behavioral, or arousal regulation that is maladaptive or poorly modulated. This can include intense or rapidly shifting emotions, impulsivity, or exaggerated stress reactivity. The term describes, rather than diagnoses, a regulatory profile.

In physiology, dysregulative processes involve systems such as the autonomic nervous system, endocrine axes, or metabolic signaling that fail to maintain stable function. Examples include dysregulated cortisol responses, disrupted circadian rhythms, or irregular appetite regulation.

Etiology is multifactorial, including genetic vulnerability, early life stress, and chronic disease. Assessment relies on self-report measures of regulation, behavioral observation, and physiological metrics like heart rate variability or hormone patterns.

Treatment aims to strengthen regulatory capacity through approaches such as emotion regulation strategies, cognitive-behavioral techniques, sleep hygiene, and, when needed, pharmacological interventions targeted to the underlying condition.

See also emotion regulation, dysregulation, homeostasis, autonomic regulation.