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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

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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