Download Dissociative Amnesia

Dissociative
Amnesia
Julia Sanderson
Definition:
Dissociative Amnesia: is a memory disorder characterized by
sudden retrograde autobiographical memory loss, said to occur for a
period of time ranging from hours to years.
Symptoms:
 Sudden inability to remember past experiences or personal
information
 Might appear confused and suffer from depression and/or
anxiety.
Other Information:
 4 categories
• Localized amnesia – for a time, the person has no memory of the traumatic
event at all. (May not recall any details for a few days.)
• Selective amnesia – the person has patchy or incomplete memories of the
traumatic event.
• Generalized amnesia – the person has trouble remembering the details of
their entire life.
• Systematized amnesia – the person may have a very particular and specific
memory loss; for example, they may have no recollection of one relative.
 More common in women than in men
 Can appear in patients of any age past infancy
Causes
• Overwhelming stress
- Might be the result of traumatic events that the person has
experienced or witnessed
- Examples: War, abuse, accidents or disasters
• Genetics
- Close relatives may have it as well
Treatment:
• A safe environment – doctors will try to get the person to feel safe and
relaxed, this triggers memory recall in some people with dissociative
disorders.
• Psychiatric drugs – such as barbiturates.
• Hypnosis – may help to recover repressed memories, although this form
of treatment for dissociative disorders is considered controversial.
• Psychotherapy – also known as ‘talk therapy’ or counselling, which is
usually needed for the long term. Examples include cognitive therapy
and psychoanalysis.
• Stress management –stress can trigger symptoms.
• Treatment for other disorders – typically, a person with a dissociative
disorder may have other mental health problems such as depression or
anxiety. Treatment may include antidepressants or anti-anxiety
medications to try to improve the symptoms of the dissociative disorder.
Media:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XGTv64eQSM
Bibliography:
• http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/neurological_institute/centerfor-behavorial-health/disease-conditions/hic-dissociative-amnesia
• http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/dissociative-amnesia
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychogenic_amnesia
• http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Diss
ociation_and_dissociative_disorders