The Dissociative amnesia Occurs if you forget certain important personal information, which is usually related to a stressful or traumatic event.
Memory loss goes beyond normal forgetfulness and may include forgetting long periods of time related to the traumatic or stressful event.
In this type of amnesia there is no loss of information due to a brain injury or illness, but the memory still exists.
It can be said that the memory is"blocked"in the mind of the person, and can arise from some stimulus as a place or event.
It is more common in women than men and its frequency tends to increase in stressful periods, such as natural disasters or wars.
Characteristics of dissociative amnesia
Dissociative or psychogenic amnesia is characterized by the presence of Retrograde amnesia (Inability to recover memories prior to the onset of amnesia) and by the absence of Anterograde amnesia (Inability to create new memories).
The main feature is that access to autobiographical memory is blocked, whereas the degree of short-term memory block varies among different cases, Semantic memory Y Procedural memory .
The memory lock can be:
- Specific to a situation, a particular accident.
- Global loss, referring to long periods of time.
symptom
The main symptom of dissociative amnesia is the sudden inability to remember past experiences or personal information.
Some people with this disorder may also appear confused or have anxiety or depression.
Causes
This disorder has been linked to a high degree of stress that can come from traumatic events such as abuse, natural disasters, accidents or wars.
The organic causes of amnesia can be difficult to detect, and sometimes physical and psychological triggers can occur at the same time.
The difficulty in finding an organic cause may result in the conclusion that amnesia is psychological, although it is possible that some organic causes may be difficult to detect.
Unlike organic amnesia, dissociative or psychogenic seems to occur when there is no structural damage or obvious damage to the brain.
Because organic amnesia is sometimes difficult to detect, distinguishing between organic and dissociative is not easy.
The main difference between organic and dissociative amnesia is that in the second there is a loss of biographical and non-semantic memory (meanings).
Diagnosis
Diagnostic criteria according to DSM-IV
A) The predominant alteration consists of one or more episodes of inability to remember important personal information, usually an event of a traumatic or stressful nature, which is too broad to be explained from ordinary forgetfulness.
B) The alteration does not appear exclusively in dissociative identity disorder, dissociative fugue, Posttraumatic stress disorder , In acute stress disorder or in the Somatization disorder , And is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (drugs or drugs) or to a medical or neurological disease.
C) Symptoms cause significant clinical distress or social, occupational, or other impairment of the individual's activity.
If there are symptoms of dissociative amnesia, the health professional will begin an evaluation with the medical history and a physical examination of the affected person.
There are no specific medical tests, although neuroimaging can be used, electroencephalogram Or blood tests to rule out other medical conditions or drug side effects.
Medical conditions such as brain injuries, brain diseases, sleep deprivation, and alcohol or drug abuse can cause symptoms similar to those of this disorder.
If no physical causes are found, the person can be referred to a psychologist or psychiatrist who has the experience and training to evaluate, diagnose and intervene.
Treatment
The first goal of treatment is to decrease symptoms and control problems arising from the disorder.
The person is then assisted in expressing and processing painful memories, developing new coping strategies, restoring normal functioning, and improving personal relationships.
The treatment model depends on the specific symptoms and the situation of the person:
- Cognitive therapy: change of irrational or dysfunctional thoughts that result in negative feelings and behaviors.
- Medication: There is no specific medication to treat this disorder, although it can benefit a person who also suffers from anxiety or depression.
- Family therapy: educating the family about the disorder, improving skills to adapt to it.
- Other types of therapies to help the person express their feelings and thoughts.
- Clinical Hypnosis: Includes intense relaxation and concentration techniques to achieve an altered state of consciousness, allowing the person to explore their thoughts, emotions and memories that they have been able to block from their conscious mind. Its use must be studied, since there are several risks such as the creation of fake memories or remembrance of traumatic experiences.
Forecast
The prognosis depends on several factors, such as the personal situation, availability of support resources and personal response to treatment.
In most people with dissociative amnesia memory returns over time, although in some cases recovery is not possible.
Prevention
Prevention itself is not possible, although it is helpful to start treatment as soon as symptoms are observed.
It is important therefore immediate intervention after a stressful or traumatic experience to reduce the possibility of such a disorder.
What is your experience with this disorder? I am interested in your opinion. Thanks!
References
- Leong S, Waits W, Diebold C (January 2006). "Dissociative Amnesia and DSM-IV-TR Cluster C Personality Traits". Psychiatry (Edgmont) 3 (1): 51-5. PMC 2990548. PMID 21103150.
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
- Markowitsch, H. J.; Fink, G.R.; Thone, A.; Kessler, J.; Heiss, W-D. (1997). "A PET study of persistent psychogenic amnesia covering the whole life span". Cognitive Neuropsychiatry 2 (2): 135-158. Doi: 10.1080 / 135468097396379.
- Markowitsch HJ (2003). "Psychogenic amnesia". Neuroimage. 20 Suppl 1: S132-8. Doi: 10.1016 / j.neuroimage.2003.09.010. PMID 14597306.
- Freyd, J. (1994). "Betrayal Trauma: Traumatic Amnesia as an Adaptive Response to Childhood Abuse." Ethics & Behavior 4 (4): 307-330.