Amnesia: Types, Causes, and Symptoms

By Rachel Stockton

The young teenager with apparent amnesia found wondering around in New York’s Times Square was identified as Kacie Peterson of rural Washington.

Peterson walked into a shelter and told counselors that she didn’t know her name, how she got to New York , or where she was from.  Her family reported her missing on October 2; a former resident of the area where Peterson and her father live recognized the girl’s picture and informed authorities of her identity.

What Causes Amnesia?

Amnesia can be brought on in one of two ways; the “easiest” amnesia to treat is simple amnesia, which is brought on by a head or brain injury.  Dissociative amnesia is more difficult to treat; it is a mental illness that is one of several dissociative disorders.

Dissociative amnesia usually stems from a traumatic event, such as wartime or natural disaster; it also can be the result of abuse.  As a protective mechanism, the afflicted patient literally blocks out certain information surrounding the traumatic event. 

In some cases, the disorder can run in families; often several family members will share the same dissociative experiences.

Peterson’s father, Henry Peterson, has stated that Kacie has had amnesia before, and that she started having problems soon after her mother died several years ago. 

According to WebMd, often those who suffer from dissociative amnesia have had more than one episode.  Mr. Peterson told authorities of a previous episode when Kacie disappeared from her home. When her family found her several hours later, she was lying on a creek bank, unable to explain how she got there.

Treatment Options

There are several different approaches to treating dissociative amnesia; they are all designed to help patients feel safe enough to talk about their feelings and to learn new coping, communication and life skills:

*Psychotherapy:  this approach attempts to improve the patients’ insight into their problems

* Cognitive Therapy:  focuses on changing unhealthy thinking patterns that have contributed to the disorder. 

*Family Therapy:  The goal of family therapy is to bring the family together so they can better understand the disorder and what triggers symptoms.  They are also taught how to recognize symptoms of an impending episode.

Some therapists use hypnosis in an attempt to delve into some of the blocked memories that cause the patient to “split” and become unable to remember even simple, personal information.

Although there is not a specific medication for dissociative amnesia, drugs can be prescribed in an attempt to assuage underlying anxiety and/or depression so that treatment will be more effective long term.