Psychogenic Psychogenic AmnesiaAmnesia

oror

Dissociative AmnesiaDissociative Amnesia

DefinitionDefinition Memory disorder characterized by extreme memory loss usually caused by Memory disorder characterized by extreme memory loss usually caused by

extensive psychological stress. As well as, abnormal memory functioning in extensive psychological stress. As well as, abnormal memory functioning in the absence of structural brain damage or a known neurobiological cause the absence of structural brain damage or a known neurobiological cause

Basically, the person will block out certain information, leaving him or her Basically, the person will block out certain information, leaving him or her unable to remember important personal information (i.e. their life, people, unable to remember important personal information (i.e. their life, people, events…)events…)

Degree of memory loss goes further than normal forgetfulness and includes Degree of memory loss goes further than normal forgetfulness and includes gaps in memory for long periods of time or of memories involving the gaps in memory for long periods of time or of memories involving the traumatic eventtraumatic event

Psychogenic Amnesia is characterized by:Psychogenic Amnesia is characterized by: Inability to retrieve memories prior to beginning of amnesia (retrograde amnesia)Inability to retrieve memories prior to beginning of amnesia (retrograde amnesia) Inability to form new long term memories (anterograde amnesia)Inability to form new long term memories (anterograde amnesia)

Two types of Psychogenic Amnesia:Two types of Psychogenic Amnesia: Global Amnesia (also known as fugue state) is a Global Amnesia (also known as fugue state) is a sudden loss of personal identity lasting a few hours to sudden loss of personal identity lasting a few hours to days, typically preceded by severe stress and/or depressed days, typically preceded by severe stress and/or depressed mood. There may also be a loss of basic knowledge mood. There may also be a loss of basic knowledge or procedural skills such as reading and writing. This or procedural skills such as reading and writing. This type is very rare, often helped by therapy, and usually type is very rare, often helped by therapy, and usually resolves over time. resolves over time. Situation-Specific Amnesia (similar to post-traumatic Situation-Specific Amnesia (similar to post-traumatic stress disorder) is a result of a severely stressful event and stress disorder) is a result of a severely stressful event and is somewhat common in cases of severe and/or repeated is somewhat common in cases of severe and/or repeated trauma (i.e., war, abuse, someone’s death).trauma (i.e., war, abuse, someone’s death).

SymptomsSymptoms Sudden inability to remember past experiences or personal Sudden inability to remember past experiences or personal

information (primary symptom). In rare cases, the person can’t information (primary symptom). In rare cases, the person can’t remember any of their life previous to the event.remember any of their life previous to the event.

The person might appear confused and suffer from depression and/or The person might appear confused and suffer from depression and/or anxietyanxiety

The memories still exist but are deeply The memories still exist but are deeply buried/can’t be recalled but might resurface buried/can’t be recalled but might resurface

on their own or after being triggered by on their own or after being triggered by something in person’s surroundings something in person’s surroundings

Not same as simple amnesia which is usually Not same as simple amnesia which is usually a result of disease or injury to the brain. a result of disease or injury to the brain. There is no physical reason for the amnesia There is no physical reason for the amnesia

to be occurring to be occurring

Even though this condition is not caused Even though this condition is not caused structural damage to the brain, an abnormal structural damage to the brain, an abnormal

brain activity can be seen when functional imaging brain activity can be seen when functional imaging tests are performed.tests are performed.

Psychogenic Amnesia is more common in women than in menPsychogenic Amnesia is more common in women than in men

Case Case StudyStudyFollowing a car accident, with no injury to his head, the patient Following a car accident, with no injury to his head, the patient

remained unconscious for approximately 20 min and confused for remained unconscious for approximately 20 min and confused for a few hours.a few hours.

When he awoke, he was found to have lost all past memories.When he awoke, he was found to have lost all past memories.

The amnesia covered his whole life, famous facts, and encyclopedic The amnesia covered his whole life, famous facts, and encyclopedic knowledge.knowledge.

It also partially involved verbal and visual memory. Reading, It also partially involved verbal and visual memory. Reading, writing and counting were no longer possible.writing and counting were no longer possible.

The patient was eventually able to remember some ideas he’d had, The patient was eventually able to remember some ideas he’d had, but no personal experiences.but no personal experiences.

Four years later, there were no changes, except for what had been Four years later, there were no changes, except for what had been relearned.relearned.

No signs of brain damage were apparent during tests.No signs of brain damage were apparent during tests.

It was determined that the patient suffered from ‘functional' It was determined that the patient suffered from ‘functional' retrograde amnesia (Psychogenic Amnesia), inhibiting his ability retrograde amnesia (Psychogenic Amnesia), inhibiting his ability to recall past memories because of the trauma he’d experiencedto recall past memories because of the trauma he’d experienced

TreatmentTreatment Psychotherapy/PsychoanalysisPsychotherapy/Psychoanalysis

Uses psychological techniques designed to encourage communication of Uses psychological techniques designed to encourage communication of conflicts and increase insight into problems by using dream analysis, conflicts and increase insight into problems by using dream analysis, interpretation, and other psychoanalytic methods to retrieve memories. interpretation, and other psychoanalytic methods to retrieve memories. This therapy may also involve putting patients in threatening situations This therapy may also involve putting patients in threatening situations where they’re overwhelmed with intense emotion. where they’re overwhelmed with intense emotion.

Medication & Relaxation TechniquesMedication & Relaxation Techniques There is no known medication to treat the Psychogenic Amnesia. There is no known medication to treat the Psychogenic Amnesia.

However, a person who also suffers from depression or anxiety might However, a person who also suffers from depression or anxiety might benefit from an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medicine.benefit from an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medicine.

Cognitive TherapyCognitive Therapy This type of therapy focuses on changing dysfunctional thinking patterns This type of therapy focuses on changing dysfunctional thinking patterns

and the feelings and behaviors associated with those thoughts.and the feelings and behaviors associated with those thoughts.

Clinical HypnosisClinical Hypnosis Uses intense relaxation, concentration and focused attention to achieve an Uses intense relaxation, concentration and focused attention to achieve an

altered state of awareness. This allows people to explore thoughts, altered state of awareness. This allows people to explore thoughts, feelings, and memories they may have hidden from their conscious minds. feelings, and memories they may have hidden from their conscious minds. Using hypnosis for this purpose is controversial due to the risk of creating Using hypnosis for this purpose is controversial due to the risk of creating false memories.false memories.

For most people with Psychogenic Amnesia, memory returns with For most people with Psychogenic Amnesia, memory returns with time, making the overall outlook very good. However, in some cases, time, making the overall outlook very good. However, in some cases, the people are never able to retrieve their memories.the people are never able to retrieve their memories.

SourceSources:s: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Psychogenic_amnesiaPsychogenic_amnesia

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/dissociative_disorders/dissociative_disorders/hic_dissociative_amnesia.aspxhic_dissociative_amnesia.aspx

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science http://www.sciencedirect.com/science Neuropsychologia Volume 35, Issue 6, 19 May Neuropsychologia Volume 35, Issue 6, 19 May 1997, Pages 781-7941997, Pages 781-794