Journal of Mental Science (1948) 94: 641-649. doi: 10.1192/bjp.94.396.641
© 1948 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Further Aspects of Brief Retrograde Amnesia

G. de M. Rudolf, M.R.C.P., D.P.M., D.P.H., Lately Specialist Psychiatrist, R.A.M.C.; Visiting Psychiatrist, Mount Pleasant, Clevedon; Hon. Psychiatrist, Bristol Clinic for Functional Disorders

ABSTRACT

  1. Cases who were likely to wish to appear at their best (i.e. W.O.S.B. candidates) and cases in whom similar motivation was probably not present (i.e. pensioners) reported similar proportions of R.A. for incidents occurring when they were probably not thinking of danger, whether or not unconsciousness had occurred after injury or terrifying incidents.
  2. The two series of cases gave different proportions of R.A. for incidents occurring when they were likely to be thinking of danger, i.e. when danger had existed for at least one minute before the incident, the difference being greatest amongst the cases recording P.T.A.
  3. When all cases were considered, the percentages of R.A. were similar in the two series when P.T.A. had occurred, but dissimilar when it had not taken place, the M. of P. cases recording 55 per cent. of R.A. but the W.O.S.B. series recording only 27.3 per cent.
  4. Attention is drawn to the occurrence of amnesia with anticipated, but not actual, accident, and to R.A. preceding accidents without P.T.A. or concussion.
  5. The complete abolition of R.A. by hypnosis requires from 3 to 10 hours. As the R.A. often shrinks over a period of months without treatment, any reduction of its length under one year from the precipitating incident may be 7 due to the natural shrinkage rather than to the treatment.
  6. The difference between R.A. due to structural, organic causes and that due to psychopathological causes appears to be that the first decreases and may disappear without the occurrence of abreaction, whereas abreaction occurs when the second is decreased or abolished.
  7. Under hypnosis, any memory, whether distant or recent, can be. recalled first, but the most terrifying memory, even if the most recent, is recalled last.
  8. Cases with symptoms insufficient to affect appreciably the health do not record a preceding R.A. in greater numbers than do those without such symptoms.
  9. Cases with symptoms affecting the subjects so greatly that pensions have been granted record an R.A. in greater proportions than do W.O.S.B. candidates without such symptoms.
  10. Depression, irritability, sweating and poor memory were more common amongst cases with R.A. than amongst those without it. Nightmares, insomnia, giddiness and tremor were more common in cases without R.A. than amongst those recording this condition.
  11. Although uncommon, a slow decrease of symptoms may occur as the years pass.