compensés par

13:32 Apr 9, 2018
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere

French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Medical - Psychology
French term or phrase: compensés par
I'm translating a French psychiatric report and I'm stuck on this long and complicated sentence:

Il est déjà inhabituel qu’un traitement pharmacologique de première intention et l’échec d’une thérapie cognitivo-behaviorale de désensibilisation prolongée soient compensés par un ultime traitement additionnel, si celui-ci n’est pas pris d’une façon fiable et régulière, il n’y a aucune chance que cela fonctionne.

This is my attempt:

It is already unusual that a first-line pharmacological treatment and the failure of long-term desensitization therapy (a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy) have been less successful than a final additional treatment, since taking it irregularly means it will not work.

I think the "final additional treatment" is Prozac, because the report later says the patient isn't taking her Prozac regularly.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Paul Jones
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:21


Summary of answers provided
4[will be] offset by/affected by
liz askew
2be made up for by (using)
Tony M


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
be made up for by (using)


Explanation:
Polyglot's interpetation is of course correct, and 'made up for' is only an eevryday expression to convey the underlying sense of 'compenser'.
Personally, I think I'd tend to turn the sentence round and say something like:

"Already, it is unusual for an additional last-ditch treatment, which is bound to be unsuccessful if it is not taken reliably and regularly, to be used to (try and) make up for the failure of long-term cognito-behavioural desensitization therapy and a first-line pharmacoloogical treatment"

I think once the ideas are re-arranged in that order, it makes it a little easier to see the wood for the trees, and thence to arrive at a more appropriate form of wording than my very informal suggestion!

I would like to know if the 'already' has any significance — on the face of it, it could seem to suggest some implied criticism of the previous treatment, as if it were then going to go on and say "Not to mention the fact of prescribing green pyjamas and cold-water baths!"

I also sense the implied 'to try to' which I have added in brackets — again, implying criticism of the previous treatment protocol.

Because my suggestion is only an informal interpretation, not a finalized translation solution, I have also used 'last-ditch treatment' — I realize the s/t is not "d'ultime recours", but by the use of 'final', it seems to me the writer is seeking to highlight the difference between a 'front-line' treatment and a 'last resort' one, and suggest that other techniques could have been tried in between...

I do hasten to add that I am not in any way a medical expert, though I do have some empirical experience of this kind of situation. So my suggestions is purely based on linguistic considerations + limited personal experience!

Tony M
France
Local time: 11:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 11
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
[will be] offset by/affected by


Explanation:
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=s-dFdPyxdRkC&pg=PA172&lp...

liz askew
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 34
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