Epistemis

Dissociative amnesia

Specialty: Psychiatry.

  • Psychogenic amnesia
  • hysterical memory loss
  • emotional amnesiac block

Why it occurs

  • Acute psychological trauma (physical, sexual abuse, catastrophes, war)
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Borderline or histrionic personality disorder
  • Dissociative identity disorder
  • Traumatic encephalopathy or mild concussion (organic cause to be ruled out)
  • Intoxication by sedatives, alcohol or transient global amnesia (TGA)

Initial workup

Cranial MRI and electroencephalogram to rule out organic matter; neurological evaluation of memory (retrograde vs. anterograde); dissociative experiences scale (DES); Ammonia or toxic test if simulation is suspected.

red flags

Inability to remember basic personal identity data (name, address) that exposes the patient to situations of geographic or legal helplessness, or that coincides with absconding behavior.

Standard management

  • There are no specific drugs to recover lost memory of dissociative origin. Pharmacological treatment focuses on reducing the associated distress: Lorazepam — rapid-acting benzodiazepine in acute anxiety crisis situations
  • Sertraline or Escitalopram — for long-term management if underlying PTSD or depression

Educational guidance for study. It is NOT a prescription recommendation. The actual choice depends on the cause, the patient, and current guidelines.

PreviousHallucinations
Area
Psychiatry
Listed causes
6
Treatment options
2
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