Dissociative Amnesia: A Mist Over Psychosis

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 15; no. 9
• Main Authors: Almaazmi, Bashayer M, Aldweik, Abdullah N, Mukhtar, Mazin A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palo Alto Cureus Inc 03-09-2023; Cureus
• Subjects: Amnesia; Benzodiazepines; Conversion disorder; Convulsions & seizures; Interviews; Memory; Patients; Personality disorders; Post traumatic stress disorder; Psychiatry; Psychosis
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.44619

This case report highlights the unique presentation of dissociative amnesia masking an underlying brief psychotic disorder, triggered by a very intense psycho-social stressor. Learning points from this report center around the importance of considering psychotic as well as affective disorders alongside a presentation of dissociative amnesia, and not only the expected anxious, post-traumatic or personality-oriented states.Our patient, a 37-year-old gentleman, was brought to our emergency department via police referral. He had gaps in his autobiographical memory that, upon receiving a regular dose of benzodiazepines, unraveled bizarre, uncooperative, and agitated behavior as well as marked fluctuations in his daily mental state examinations. Biological management through antipsychotic monotherapy, psychological management through insight-oriented therapy as well as psychological support, and social management revolving around the alleviation of surrounding stressors enabled his safe recovery.