Psychogenic and organic amnesia. A multidimensional assessment of clinical, neuroradiological, neuropsychological and psychopathological features

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Serra, Laura | Fadda, Lucia^; | Buccione, Ivana | Caltagirone, Carlo^; | Carlesimo, Giovanni A.^;

Affiliations: Fondazione IRCCS Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy | Clinica Neurologica, Università Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy

Note: [] Corresponding author: Laura Serra, Fondazione IRCCS Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina, 306, 00179 Roma, Italy. Tel.: +39 06 51501576; E-mail: l.serra@hsantalucia.it

Abstract: Psychogenic amnesia is a complex disorder characterised by a wide variety of symptoms. Consequently, in a number of cases it is difficult distinguish it from organic memory impairment. The present study reports a new case of global psychogenic amnesia compared with two patients with amnesia underlain by organic brain damage. Our aim was to identify features useful for distinguishing between psychogenic and organic forms of memory impairment. The findings show the usefulness of a multidimensional evaluation of clinical, neuroradiological, neuropsychological and psychopathological aspects, to provide convergent findings useful for differentiating the two forms of memory disorder.

Keywords: Amnesia, psychogenic origin, organic origin

Journal: Behavioural Neurology, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 53-64, 2007