1. Dissociative Amnesia Julia Sanderson

2. Definition: Dissociative Amnesia: is a memory disorder characterized by sudden retrograde autobiographical memory loss, said to occur for a period of time ranging from hours to years.

3. Symptoms:  Sudden inability to remember past experiences or personal information  Might appear confused and suffer from depression and/or anxiety.

4. Other Information:  4 categories Localized amnesia – for a time, the person has no memory of the traumatic event at all. (May not recall any details for a few days.) Selective amnesia – the person has patchy or incomplete memories of the traumatic event. Generalized amnesia – the person has trouble remembering the details of their entire life. Systematized amnesia – the person may have a very particular and specific memory loss; for example, they may have no recollection of one relative.  More common in women than in men  Can appear in patients of any age past infancy

5. Causes Overwhelming stress - Might be the result of traumatic events that the person has experienced or witnessed - Examples: War, abuse, accidents or disasters Genetics - Close relatives may have it as well

6. Treatment: A safe environment – doctors will try to get the person to feel safe and relaxed, this triggers memory recall in some people with dissociative disorders. Psychiatric drugs – such as barbiturates. Hypnosis – may help to recover repressed memories, although this form of treatment for dissociative disorders is considered controversial. Psychotherapy – also known as ‘talk therapy’ or counselling, which is usually needed for the long term. Examples include cognitive therapy and psychoanalysis. Stress management –stress can trigger symptoms. Treatment for other disorders – typically, a person with a dissociative disorder may have other mental health problems such as depression or anxiety. Treatment may include antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications to try to improve the symptoms of the dissociative disorder.

7. Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XGTv64eQSM

8. Bibliography: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/neurological_institute/center- for-behavorial-health/disease-conditions/hic-dissociative-amnesia http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/neurological_institute/center- for-behavorial-health/disease-conditions/hic-dissociative-amnesia http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/dissociative-amnesia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychogenic_amnesia http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Diss ociation_and_dissociative_disorders http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Diss ociation_and_dissociative_disorders