Hysterical Amnesia

Hysterical amnesia occurs when an individual forgets traumatic events. In this rare condition, the inability to recall serves as a defense mechanism against experiences which provoke guilt, shame, rejection, or other related feelings. This term is now rarely used and is most associated with dissociative amnesia which is a localized (specific period of time), selective (certain events during a specific period of time), or generalized (life history and identity) memory loss due to stress or trauma. The usual treatment is psychotherapy. Other patients go through hypnosis or drug-assisted interviews. Some individuals regain their memory after a few days, weeks, or months without treatment.