Dissociative Amnesia

Overview

• Includes several forms of psychogenic memory loss
• Generalized vs. localized or selective type
• May involve dissociative fugue
  • During the amnestic episode, person travels or wanders, sometimes assuming a new identity in a different place
  • Unable to remember how or why one has ended up in a new place
  • Ex: Three faces of Eve

DSM-5 Criteria

• A. An inability to recall important autobiographical information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature, that is inconsistent with ordinary forgetting.
  • Note: Dissociative amnesia most often consists of localized or selective amnesia for a specific event or events; or generalized amnesia for identity and life history.
• B. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
• C. The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or a neurological or other medical condition.
• D. The disturbance is not better explained by dissociative identity disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, acute stress disorder, somatic symptom disorder, or major or mild neurocognitive disorder.
• Specify if:
  • With dissociative fugue: Apparently purposeful travel or bewildered wandering that is associated with amnesia for identity or for other important autobiographical information.

Statistics

• Prevalence: 2 to 7%
• Usually begin in adulthood
• Rarely appear in childhood or late adulthood
• Show rapid onset and dissipation
• Causes
  • Little is known
  • Trauma and stress can serve as triggers
• Most recover/remember without treatment

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