Amnesia

Memory loss of Amnesia includes everything from a person’s past and the other times. Most cases of Amnesia are temporary, lasting a few seconds to hours. Duration depends on the severity of disease or trauma. As Amnesiacs recover they first recall older memories first then recent memories. Memories that occurred around the time of the accident are usually never recovered.

There are many different types of Amnesia, such as:

• Anterograde Amnesia
• Emotional/hysterical Amnesia
• Korsakoff Amnesia
• Retrograde Amnesia
• Transient Global Amnesia

The most common types of Amnesia are Anterograde and Retrograde Amnesia. Anterograde Amnesia is when the person can’t recall incidents that happened after onset of Amnesia.

Retrograde Amnesia is the type of amnesia most people think of when they hear the term. People with retrograde amnesia find it hard to remember things that occurred prior to an incident in which they incurred damage to the head. Sometimes people never remember the seconds leading up to the incident.

Transient Global Amnesia is so-called because it last a short period of time, but affects a large portion of the memory. It leaves the person confused because they may be without their memory for 24 hours or more. Transient Global Amnesia is the sudden appearance of severe, forgetful confusion lasting from as little as 30 to60 minutes to as long as 12 hours or more. It is an unusual but not uncommon syndrome. During severe attacks, there is total disorientation except for one’s identity, combined with a retrograde memory deficit that can extend back for several years, but with gradually resolves as the attack subsides. Patients generally have a rapid, total recovery; therefore no treatment is indicated. However, since this event may involve poor cerebral circulation due to atherosclerosis, further testing in indicated. If there is a personal or family history of cerebrovascular disease, it is suggested that the recommendation for atherosclerosis within the Cardiovascular Disease protocol be followed and consideration given to therapy.

Wernike-Korsakoff's Psychosis is memory loss caused by extended alcohol abuse. This tends to be a progressive disorder and is usually accompanied by neurological problems, such as uncoordinated movements and loss of feeling in the fingers and toes.

Infantile/Childhood Amnesia refers to a person's inability to recall events from early childhood. Some say this type of amnesia could be linked to language development or the fact that some areas of the brain linked to memory were not fully mature.

Emotional/Hysterical (fugue) Amnesia is usually triggered by a traumatic event that the person's mind is unable to properly handle. Usually, the memory slowly or suddenly returns a few days later, although memory of the trauma itself may remain incomplete.

Category: Psychiatry Notes