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

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.