Dissociative amnesia

This is an often short-term, dissociative disorder in which a person becomes separated from their personal memories following stress, trauma, or illness.

What is it?

Dissociative amnesia is often linked to overwhelming stress, such as witnessing or suffering from abuse, an accident, or a disaster. The resulting severe memory loss often affects specific recollections, such as a certain period during childhood, or something associated with a friend, relative, or peer. Alternatively, the amnesia may focus on a traumatic event, for example, a crime victim may have no memory of being robbed at gunpoint, but can recall details from the rest of that day. A person may develop generalized memory loss and may not remember their name, job, home, family, and friends. They may disappear and be reported missing. They might even create a totally new identity, fail to recognize people or places from their past life, and be unable to explain themselves—this is known as a dissociative fugue. Clinical diagnosis will
involve completing assessment questionnaires that help identify a trigger and enable the individual to capture and rate their symptoms. Physical checks and psychological examinations are also carried out to exclude other medical causes of memory loss.

Memory recovery

Most cases of dissociative amnesia are shortterm, and while memories may temporarily fall away, they often return suddenly and completely. The recovery may happen on its own, after being triggered by something in the person’s surroundings, or in a therapy session.

TREATMENT

❯ Psychotherapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, family therapy, and art therapies such as hypnosis or mindfulness meditation can help the person understand and deal with the stress that triggered the disorder, and learn coping strategies .

❯ Medication, such as antidepressants, may be prescribed for the depression or psychosis that can be associated with the amnesia .