retrograde amnesiaI - a disease characterized by impaired memory of events that occurred prior to the occurrence of this disease. The memories of all events after the onset of disease persist.
GENERAL
Retrograde amnesia is part of a group of psycho-neurological disorders in addition to epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease and alcoholism.
Depending on the causes of the disease and the extent of damage as possible the flow of amnesia brain range from a couple of months to several years.
Quite often, the disease manifests itself simultaneously with anterograde. Retrograde amnesia from anterograde characterized in that the last time the patient can not recall events that occurred after the beginning of the progression of the disease.
CAUSES
The causes of retrograde amnesia are divided into organic (associated with brain damage) and psychological (connected with the repressed memories that caused the trauma).
organic:
- Traumatic brain injury.
- Epilepsy.
- Intoxication and cerebral hypoxia.
- Circulatory disorders in brain regions resulting in coma, anesthesia action or stroke.
- Encephalitis and other infectious diseases.
- brain tumor.
- Cerebrovascular diseases.
- Alcohol abuse.
- Addiction.
psychological:
- Suffered severe stress or shock situation.
- Psychoses.
- Mental diseases and disorders.
For a short time symptoms appear retrograde amnesia in the treatment of severe forms of depression using electroconvulsive therapy.
CLASSIFICATION
Based on the causes and forms of the course, the disease is characterized by the following methods.
In form:
- The acute form - manifests a sharp loss of memory, usually due to traumatic brain injury and mental.
- Progressing form of - disease develops gradually due migraine, vascular diseases, psychopathology; risk group considered women over the age of 50 years.
By duration:
- Short-term - up to two months.
- Long-term - from two months to a couple of years.
For the reasons:
- Organic.
- Psychological.
In form of memory loss:
- Partial - the patient can recall a particularly vivid events of the past (wedding, birth, travel).
- Full - characterized by the absolute loss of memory, up to the loss of memories of his name; retained the basic skills of everyday nature.
SYMPTOMS
The main symptom of retrograde amnesia - the loss of opportunity to recall events that occurred before the onset of, or causing physical and psychological injuries.
Clinical manifestations:
- disorientation;
- confusion;
- the impossibility for a short period of time after the injury to remember current events;
- frequent repetition of the same issues;
- detachment from the outside world;
- seclusion and restraint.
DIAGNOSTICS
Diagnosis of retrograde amnesia often requires consulting several specialists, including a psychiatrist, neurosurgeon, neurologist and psychiatrist.
diagnosis methods:
- clinical-anamnestic survey;
- a study to identify patopsihologicheskih violations;
- Analysis elektroentsefallografa indications;
- Magnetic resonance imaging;
- toxicological analysis of blood;
- special test functions of memory.
TREATMENT
Treatment involves retrograde amnesia combined approach using the following techniques.
Drug therapy:
- drugs, neuroprotective agents;
- nootropic agents;
- vitamin complexes;
- drugs for improving microcirculation in cerebral vessels;
- drugs for stable maintenance of the cardiovascular system;
- drugs to stimulate the processes of memorizing and reproducing information;
- antidepressants, tranquilizers.
Physiotherapy:
- Color therapy;
- acupuncture;
- low-intensity electrical current.
For the treatment of retrograde amnesia use the method of hypnotic effect. As a result of recovered memories of events that took place immediately before the start of amnesia.
COMPLICATIONS
It should be remembered that the retrograde amnesia - it is a disease in which the patient has no physical, and social and psychological discomfort. In this aspect, the major complications can be severe and prolonged depression, complete detachment from the world and close, as well as suicidal thoughts.
PREVENTION
Without considering the injuries that can occur suddenly (eg, physical and psychological disorders as a result of a serious accident), preventive measures include the following.
A set of preventive measures:
- complete rejection of destructive habits, including alcohol consumption, smoking and administration of narcotic and psychotropic substances;
- stimulation of brain activity (reading, writing poems, crossword puzzles);
- a healthy diet, rich in vitamins;
- walks in the open air;
- avoiding head injuries;
- to prevent oxygen starvation.
See also: Types of amnesia - diagnosis and treatment
FORECAST FOR RECOVERY
Retrograde amnesia in most cases can be effectively treated. Sometimes memory recovery may cause discomfort due to the memories of the reasons that caused retrograde amnesia. After a short period of time the positive emotions of the recovery gaining the upper hand, and man will be returned to the normal working capacity.
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