STUDY - Technical - New Dacian's Medicine
Amnesia
(Classical / Allopathic Medicine)
Amnesia, a
disturbance in or loss of memory, may be classified as partial
or complete and as anterograde or retrograde. Anterograde
amnesia denotes memory loss for events that occurred after the
onset of the causative trauma or disease; retrograde amnesia
denotes memory loss for events that occurred before the onset.
Depending on the cause, amnesia may arise suddenly or slowly
and may be temporary or permanent.
Organic, or true,
amnesia results from temporal lobe dysfunction, and it
characteristically spares patches of memory. A common symptom
among patients with seizures or head trauma, organic amnesia
can also be an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease.
Hysterical amnesia has a psychogenic origin and typically
causes complete memory loss. Treatment-induced amnesia is
usually transient.
HISTORY:
Because many patients are unaware of their amnesia, you'll likely need to obtain information from the family.
Ask the family when the amnesia first appeared and what types of things the patient can't remember. Can the patient learn and retain new information? Does the amnesia encompass a recent or remote period?
Ask the family if the patient has a history of seizures.
Obtain a drug history, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, herbal remedies, and recreational drugs. Also, ask about alcohol intake.
Because many patients are unaware of their amnesia, you'll likely need to obtain information from the family.
Ask the family when the amnesia first appeared and what types of things the patient can't remember. Can the patient learn and retain new information? Does the amnesia encompass a recent or remote period?
Ask the family if the patient has a history of seizures.
Obtain a drug history, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, herbal remedies, and recreational drugs. Also, ask about alcohol intake.
PHYSICAL
ASSESSMENT:
Note the patient's general appearance, behavior, mood, and train of thought.
Test recent memory by asking the patient to identify and repeat three items. Retest him after 3 minutes.
Test intermediate memory with such questions as “Who was president before the person who's currently in office?” and “What was the last type of car you bought?”
Test remote memory with such questions as “How old are you?” and “Where were you born?”
Take the patient's vital signs.
Assess level of consciousness.
Check pupils and extraocular movements.
Test motor function by having the patient move his arms and legs through their range of motion.
Evaluate sensory function with pinpricks on the patient's skin.
Note the patient's general appearance, behavior, mood, and train of thought.
Test recent memory by asking the patient to identify and repeat three items. Retest him after 3 minutes.
Test intermediate memory with such questions as “Who was president before the person who's currently in office?” and “What was the last type of car you bought?”
Test remote memory with such questions as “How old are you?” and “Where were you born?”
Take the patient's vital signs.
Assess level of consciousness.
Check pupils and extraocular movements.
Test motor function by having the patient move his arms and legs through their range of motion.
Evaluate sensory function with pinpricks on the patient's skin.
SPECIAL
CONSIDERATIONS:
If the patient has retrograde amnesia, provide reality orientation, and encourage his family to supply familiar photos, objects, and music.
If the patient has anterograde amnesia, adjust your patient-teaching techniques, keeping in mind that he can't acquire new information.
If the patient has severe amnesia, consider basic needs, such as safety, elimination, and nutrition.
If the patient has retrograde amnesia, provide reality orientation, and encourage his family to supply familiar photos, objects, and music.
If the patient has anterograde amnesia, adjust your patient-teaching techniques, keeping in mind that he can't acquire new information.
If the patient has severe amnesia, consider basic needs, such as safety, elimination, and nutrition.
PEDIATRIC
POINTERS:
A child who suffers seizure-induced amnesia may mistakenly be labeled as “learning disabled.” To prevent mislabeling, stress the importance of adherence to the prescribed drug regimen, and discuss ways that the child, his parents, and his teachers can cope with the amnesia.
A child who suffers seizure-induced amnesia may mistakenly be labeled as “learning disabled.” To prevent mislabeling, stress the importance of adherence to the prescribed drug regimen, and discuss ways that the child, his parents, and his teachers can cope with the amnesia.
PATIENT
COUNSELING:
Provide the patient and his family with support. Refer them for psychological counseling if appropriate.
Provide the patient and his family with support. Refer them for psychological counseling if appropriate.
Bibliography:
1. Rapid Assessment, A
Flowchart Guide to Evaluating Signs & Symptoms, Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins, 2004.
2. Professional Guide to
Signs and symptoms, Edition V, Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins, 2007.
3. Guide to common
symptoms, Edition V, McGraw - Hill, 2002.
Dorin,
Merticaru (2010)