Dissociative Amnesia

General signs and symptoms² of dissociative amnesia often involve:

• Difficulty recalling important personal information (usually of a traumatic or stressful nature) that is too extensive to attribute to normal forgetfulness. 
• The presence of episodic amnesia, typically with a sudden onset and duration ranging from minutes to years.

Specific symptoms of dissociative amnesia can include:

• Localized amnesia: Localized amnesia is the most common type of the condition. It involves memory loss around a particular event or period, often following a traumatic event. For example, a survivor of an accident might have no memory of the accident or the hospital visit afterward.
• Selective amnesia: With selective amnesia, the individual only forgets some events during a specific period. For example, they might remember parts of an accident but cannot recall other aspects of the same event.
• Generalized amnesia: This type of amnesia is the rarest and most severe form. It is classified as a broad and long-term memory loss where a person can forget everything about their life, including their identity and life history. It can be especially distressing for the person affected and their loved ones.

Related symptoms 

People with dissociative amnesia may also display these associated symptoms:

• Anxiety and depression: Anxiety and depression are both common due to the distress caused by the loss of memory.
• Distorted perception of time: Individuals might have difficulties perceiving time or perceive it to be passing faster or slower than usual.
• Identity confusion: Some individuals may struggle with their sense of identity and become mentally or emotionally disconnected from themselves.  
• Dissociative fugue state: In rare instances, dissociative amnesia may be accompanied by travel or wandering that the individual does not remember due to memory gaps.

The manifestation and severity of these symptoms can vary widely between individuals. If you or someone you know is exhibiting these signs, seek professional psychological help.

Dissociative amnesia is often considered a trauma³ response seen in those with post-traumatic stress disorder, although the exact cause is not well understood and is the subject of much ongoing research. It appears to be a defense mechanism where the brain involuntarily blocks out traumatic memories to protect the individual from intense emotional pain.

Common causes

Dissociative amnesia is often linked to extremely distressing incidents or periods of stress, such as:

• Physical or sexual abuse, especially during childhood
• Involvement in military combat
• Experiencing a natural disaster, such as an earthquake, flood, or fire
• Witnessing a traumatic event, like a violent crime or attack
• Loss of a loved one or a similarly emotionally traumatic event

Risk factors

Certain factors may increase a person’s susceptibility to developing dissociative amnesia, including:

• History of mental disorders, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder or other dissociative disorders
• Childhood abuse or trauma, as children who experience these are more likely to develop dissociative disorders in adulthood
• Significant stress due to issues like intense financial problems, relationship troubles, or work-related stress

Triggers

A particular trigger⁴ can bring about an episode of dissociative amnesia. Triggers are situations, topics, items, or events that the individual perceives as incredibly stressful or emotionally overwhelming, reminding them of a past traumatic event. Examples could include an argument with a loved one, a reminder of past abuse, or exposure to a similar traumatic event. In these situations, the person might suddenly forget the entire event or specific aspects.

The most common treatments for amnesia related to dissociative disorders involve some form of psychotherapy, with medication sometimes being used to address associated symptoms. The main goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and control any adverse behaviors or experiences, helping the individual safely express and process painful memories, develop new coping skills, restore functioning, and improve relationships.

Medication

While no medication is specifically approved to treat dissociative amnesia, medication can be used to manage associated symptoms or potential co-existing mental health conditions. A medical professional can closely monitor any medication regimen. Common medication types may include antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, or some antipsychotic drugs that may help with symptoms like depression and anxiety. If an individual experiences sleep disorders or other sleep issues, medication may be used to manage them.

Consult a medical doctor before starting, changing, or stopping a medication for any condition. In addition, the above information is not a replacement for medical advice or diagnosis. 

Other treatment options

In some cases, hypnosis may be used as part of the treatment for dissociative amnesia. It involves placing the individual into a “trance-like” state to help them be better able to access and discuss their memories. However, this treatment approach is controversial and can be used carefully and under the supervision of a mental health professional to prevent the creation of false memories.

Self-care

Self-care strategies can be crucial complements to professional treatment approaches. Some self-care exercises may include:

• Regular physical activity and a balanced diet can enhance overall well-being.
• Techniques for stress management, like mindfulness and yoga, can help manage some symptoms.
• Adequate sleep is crucial for overall mental health and can reduce some symptoms.
• Participating in social activities and seeking support from loved ones can help people experiencing amnesia be more connected and less isolated.

Treatment for dissociative amnesia is often personalized to an individual’s specific circumstances. A multi-faceted approach, including professional mental health support, self-care, and medication as needed, is often the most effective strategy.

Therapy can play a crucial role in managing and treating dissociative amnesia, and with online therapy platforms, receiving care is often more convenient. By using a platform like BetterHelp, individuals can receive treatment from a licensed mental health professional and manage the challenges of dissociative amnesia in the comfort of their own space.

Apart from therapy, there are numerous resources to aid individuals coping with dissociative amnesia. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) is dedicated to enhancing the understanding of chronic trauma and dissociation. They offer information about the prevalence, effects, and treatments available for dissociative conditions.

Additionally, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) can provide support and information about local resources for those with dissociative disorders. NAMI also offers the Connection Recovery Support Group, a peer-led support group for adults experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. This community support can complement individual therapy, promoting broader understanding.

Please see our Get Help Now page for more immediate resources.

There is limited research on dissociative amnesia due to it being a rare condition. A similar condition to dissociative amnesia is dissociative identity disorder (DID), which can also be connected to traumatic events and experiences. Although DID is not the same as dissociative amnesia, studies on the connection between these conditions may provide insight into dissociative symptoms. 

Research from the Department of Experimental Psychotherapy and Psychopathology at the University of Groningen proposes that Schema Therapy (ST) may be a comparable alternative to Phase-Oriented Trauma Treatment (POTT) for DID. They concluded that increased treatment intensity and a limit on session numbers can foster quicker improvement. It also challenges the conventional understanding of dissociative amnesia in DID, suggesting there may be inter-identity information transfer.

Research published by Cambridge University Press proposes that a reduced volume of the Cornu Ammonis 1 (CA1), a hippocampal subfield, might be a biomarker for dissociative amnesia in dissociative identity disorder (DID). They emphasize that this research is preliminary and warrants further investigation. The subjective experience of amnesia, despite the lack of “objective” measures, is considered debilitating and requires relief-oriented research.

7.3% to 11.4% of outpatient and inpatient patients have dissociative amnesia

In both psychiatric inpatient and outpatient environments, 7.3% to 11.4% of patients meet the criteria for dissociative amnesia, based on psychological testing. ¹

¹UpToDate

Below are more statistics on dissociative amnesia:

• The United Brain Association indicates that dissociative amnesia, often caused by traumatic or stressful events, impacts about 1% of American men and 2.5% of American women.  
• Research from The American Journal of Psychiatry showed people with somatization disorder (characterized by a history of at least eight unexplained symptoms in four or more bodily systems) reported “significantly higher levels of dissociative amnesia than the comparison subjects.”
• Research published in Cureus asserts that psychotherapy is fundamental in treatment, with memory recovery ranging from mere minutes to several years. Amnesia that occurs nearer to the stressful incident often resolves faster.