Discuss The Symptoms Of Amnestic Disorder Using The Most Cur

Discuss the symptoms of Amnestic Disorder using the most current (DSM-5) diagnostic manual

Amnestic Disorder, classified under Dissociative Disorders in the DSM-5, is characterized primarily by a significant impairment in episodic autobiographical memory. According to the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013), the key symptoms include an inability to recall important personal information typically associated with traumatic or stressful events, which is unconscious and not attributable to physiological causes or other mental disorders such as dissociative identity disorder. The memory loss cannot be explained by substance use or neurological conditions and causes marked distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Patients with Amnestic Disorder often experience episodes of memory loss that involve specific events or periods, which may last from minutes to years. When recalling traumatic events, these individuals may show partial or fragmented memories, often accompanied by flashbacks or nightmares, indicating that some memories are repressed but still accessible through cues or therapy. The disorder is frequently associated with trauma, such as childhood abuse, war experiences, or severe stress, which triggers the dissociative response to mental health threats (Staniloiu & Markowitsch, 2010).

In clinical presentations, the symptomatology extends beyond mere forgetfulness; it is marked by an abrupt or gradual inability to remember personal facts, routines, and relationships, often for no physiological reason. These memory impairments are distinct in that they are episodic autobiographical memories, including specific personal experiences, which are more affected than semantic memory, involving general knowledge like dates or weather patterns (American Psychiatric Association, 20113). Repression of traumatic memories plays a significant role, and sometimes the disorder leads to dissociative fugue, involving travel and identity loss, or even the development of a new identity, especially when trauma is severe and unresolved (Sau Kuen Kwan, 2009).

Thus, Amnestic Disorder presents with clear episodic memory deficits coupled with psychological distress, often linked to traumatic contexts. The DSM-5 criteria emphasize the importance of ruling out neurological or physiological causes and recognizing the role of trauma in the etiology. These symptoms can significantly impact daily functioning, social relationships, and occupational responsibilities, requiring careful clinical assessment and trauma-informed treatment approaches (Brand & Loewenstein, 2010; Markowitsch & Staniloiu, 2012).

References

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
• Brand, B., & Loewenstein, R. J. (2010). Dissociative disorders: An overview of assessment, phenomenology, and treatment. Psychiatric Times, 27(10), 62-69.
• Markowitsch, H. J., & Staniloiu, A. (2012). Amnesic disorders. The Lancet, 380(9856), 88-98.
• Sau Kuen Kwan, P. (2009). Phase-orientated hypnotherapy for complex PTSD in battered women: An overview and case studies from Hong Kong. Australian Journal of Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis, 37(1), 15-28.
• Staniloiu, A., & Markowitsch, H. J. (2010). Searching for the anatomy of dissociative amnesia. Zeitschrift fur Psychologie, 218(2), 96-108.
• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
• Markowitsch, H. J., & Staniloiu, A. (2012). Amnesic disorders. The Lancet, 380(9856), 88-98.
• Staniloiu, A., & Markowitsch, H. J. (2010). Searching for the anatomy of dissociative amnesia. Zeitschrift für Psychologie, 218(2), 96-108.
• Brand, B., & Loewenstein, R. J. (2010). Dissociative disorders: An overview of assessment, phenomenology, and treatment. Psychiatric Times, 27(10), 62-69.
• Sau Kuen Kwan, P. (2009). Phase-orientated hypnotherapy for complex PTSD in battered women: An overview and case studies from Hong Kong. Australian Journal of Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis, 37(1), 15-28.