The dissociative amesia It occurs when important personal information is forgotten, which is usually related to a stressful or traumatic event. Memory loss goes beyond normal forgetfulness and may include forgetting for 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 disease, but the memory still exists. It can be said that the memory is "blocked" in the mind of the person, being able to resurface from some stimulus such as a place or event.
It is more common in women than in men and its frequency tends to increase in stressful periods, such as natural disasters or war.
Article index
Dissociative or psychogenic amnesia is characterized by the presence of retrograde amnesia (inability to retrieve memories prior to the onset of amnesia) and by the absence of anterograde amnesia (inability to create new memories).
The main characteristic is that access to autobiographical memory is blocked, while the degree of blockage of short-term memory, semantic memory and procedural memory varies between different cases..
The memory lock can be:
The main symptom of dissociative amnesia is the sudden inability to recall past experiences or personal information..
Some people with this disorder may also appear confused or suffer from anxiety or depression..
This disorder has been linked to a high degree of stress that can come from traumatic events such as abuse, natural disasters, accidents or war. Organic causes of amnesia can be difficult to detect, and physical and psychological triggers can sometimes be present at the same time..
Difficulty 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 obvious structural damage or injury to the brain. Because organic amnesia is difficult to detect at times, distinguishing between organic and dissociative is not straightforward..
The main difference between organic and dissociative amnesia is that in the second there is a loss of biographical and non-semantic memory (meanings).
A) The predominant disturbance consists of one or more episodes of inability to remember important personal information, generally 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, post-traumatic stress disorder, acute stress disorder, or 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) The symptoms produce significant clinical discomfort or social, occupational or other areas of the individual's activity deterioration.
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, EEG, or blood tests can be used to rule out other medical conditions or drug side effects..
Medical conditions such as brain injury, brain disease, lack of sleep, and alcohol or drug abuse can cause symptoms similar to those of this disorder..
If no physical causes are found, the person may be referred to a psychologist or psychiatrist who has the experience and training to evaluate, diagnose, and intervene..
The first goal of treatment is to decrease symptoms and control problems resulting from the disorder..
The person is then helped to express and process painful memories, developing new coping strategies, restoring normal functioning, and improving personal relationships..
The treatment model depends on the specific symptoms and the person's situation:
Prognosis depends on several factors, such as personal situation, availability of supportive 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 itself is not possible, although it is helpful to start treatment as soon as symptoms are observed.
Therefore, immediate intervention after a stressful or traumatic experience is important to reduce the possibility of such a disorder..
What is your experience with this disorder? I am interested in your opinion. Thanks!
Yet No Comments