Amnestic disorders are characterized by memory impairment resulting from
drug abuse, a side-effect of medication, or from exposure to a toxin,
although cases of amnesia exist without specific etiology.
A person with
an amnestic disorder always experiences
levels of impairment in their ability to learn and retain new
information. Some people with amnestic disorders might be unable to
recall information previously learned, but this is more variant than the
ability to retain new information and depends on the
location and severity of brain damage.
The severity of memory
disturbance impairs the person socially and/or occupationally, and marks
decline in level of functions. The memory impairment should not occur
exclusively during the course of delirium or dementia
in order to be diagnosed as an amnestic disorder. In some cases, the
person may vividly recall experiences of the distant past with no
recollection of more current occurrences.
The ability to access
sequential strings of information is typically not effected,
such as counting and reciting the alphabet. Amnestic disorders are
often associated with features such as confusion and disorientation.
Confabulation, imaginative information developed to fill in the gaps of
memory, is not uncommon in the initial stages of
treatment, but does tend to wane with time. Because confabulation is a
factor to be mindful of during the treatment process, its important to
collaborate with the client's family and other informants to collect
accurate data about the individual and his or
her life.
Those with severe amnestic disorders often have lack of
insight into their deficiencies, which can result in agitation upon
confrontation.
(DSM-IV-TR)
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