The use of abreaction to recover memories in psychogenic amnesia: A case report

Amnesia regarding an offence is often encountered in forensic practice. Psychogenic factors appear to be the most common cause. A number of authors have described the use of abreaction as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in cases of psychogenic amnesia. However, this technique is currently seldom u...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journal of forensic psychiatry & psychology 2006-12, Vol.17 (4), p.647-653
Main Authors: Vattakatuchery, Joe John, Chesterman, Paul
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
abreaction
Amnesia
Biological and medical sciences
Case studies
Crime
Disorders of higher nervous function. Focal brain diseases. Central vestibular syndrome and deafness. Brain stem syndromes
Forensic psychiatry
Kidnapping
Medical sciences
Mental illness
Mentally ill people
Motivation
Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes)
Neurology
Offenders
psychogenic amnesia
Psychology
psychosis
Recovered memory
Risk
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Summary:Amnesia regarding an offence is often encountered in forensic practice. Psychogenic factors appear to be the most common cause. A number of authors have described the use of abreaction as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in cases of psychogenic amnesia. However, this technique is currently seldom used in clinical practice. This case report describes a man in his 50s who had attempted to kidnap a young girl. He was floridly psychotic at the time of the offence. He subsequently claimed amnesia regarding the incident, but following two abreactions with midozolam he was able to recall significant details of the offence. It was possible to establish the motivation and determine that the offence was not sexually motivated. Understanding his motivation played an important role in determining his risk of re-offending and influenced his future management.
ISSN:1478-9949
1478-9957
DOI:10.1080/14789940600965938