Organic Amnestic Syndrome

The condition usually results from lesions in the posterior hypothalamus and nearby mid line structures, but occasionally results from bilateral hippocampal lesions.

It is often describe as Korsakov’s syndrome, after the Russian neurologist who first described the clinical features, or as the Wernicke–Korsakov syndrome.

Lastly; The prominent causal factor in most cases appears to thiamine deficiency. [1]

Indian epidemiology then other

1. Thiamine deficiency:

In brief; Alcohol abuse is the most frequent cause, and seems to act by causing a deficiency of thiamine.

2. Any other lesion involving bilaterally the inner core of limbic system:

That is mammillary bodies, fornix, hippocampus and parahippocampal structures of medial temporal lobe, posterior hypothalamus and dorsomedial thalamic nuclei.
For example:

• Head trauma,
• Surgical procedure (e.g. bilateral temporal lobectomy),
• Hypoxia,
• Posterior cerebral artery stroke (especially bilateral),
• Herpes simplex encephalitis, and
• Space occupying lesions in the region of III ventricle (e.g. neoplasms) [2]
• Carbon monoxide poisoning,
• Vascular lesions,
• Tumours of the third ventricle. [1]

AAA

Risk factors are things that make you more likely to develop a disease in the first place.

Pathogenesis refers to the development of a disease. It’s the story of how a disease gets started and progresses.

This is the entire journey of a disease, encompassing the cause but going beyond it.

Pathophysiology, on the other hand, focuses on the functional changes that occur in the body due to the disease. It explains how the disease disrupts normal physiological processes and how this disruption leads to the signs and symptoms we see.

Imagine a car accident. Pathogenesis would be like understanding how the accident happened – what caused it, the sequence of events (e.g., one car ran a red light, then hit another car). Pathophysiology would be like understanding the damage caused by the accident – the bent fenders, deployed airbags, and any injuries to the passengers.

In simpler terms, pathogenesis is about the "why" of a disease, while pathophysiology is about the "how" of the disease’s effects.

Tab Content

Recent memory severely impaired:

The impairment of memory is characterise by a severe impairment of recent memory or short-term memory (inability to learn new material). This is associate with impaired remote memory or long-term memory (inability to recall previously learned material). There is however no impairment of immediate memory (i.e. immediate retention and recall).  Recent memory impairment also leads to disorientation in time and place. [2]

Remote memory spared

Disorientation in time:

One consequence of the profound disorder of memory is an associate disorientation in time. [1]

Confabulation:

Gaps in memory are often filled by confabulation. [1]  With the progression of the disease, confabulation often disappears. [2]

Other cognitive functions preserved:

It including remote memory, are relatively well preserve. [1]

Unlike the patient with dementia, the patient with an amnesic syndrome seems alert and able to reason or hold an ordinary conversation, so that the interviewer may at first be unaware of the extent of the memory disorder. [1]

Tab Content

Diagnosis

According to ICD-10, the following features are required for the diagnosis:

• Recent memory impairment (in other words; anterograde and retrograde amnesia)
• No impairment of immediate retention also recall
• Attention, consciousness
• Global intellectual functioning
• Historical or objective evidence of brain disease or injury (occurs particularly with bilateral involvement of diencephalic and medial temporal structures). [2]

Furthermore, the patient may give a vivid and detailed account of recent activities that, on checking, turn out to be inaccurate.

It is as though he cannot distinguish between true memories and the products of his imagination or recollection of events from times other than those he is trying to recall.

Such a patient is often suggestible; in response to a few cues from the interviewer, he may give an elaborate account of taking part in events that never happened. [1]

Complications are what happen after you have a disease. They are the negative consequences of the disease process.

Tab Content

• For cases that may be due to thiamine deficiency, this vitamin should prescribe in the hope of limiting further damage.
• Oral thiamine is sufficient in non-urgent situations, but patients admitted to hospital should give parenteral B vitamins (Pabrinex®). [1]
• Supportive care for general condition and treatment of the associated medical illness. [2]

Tab Content

Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. Additionally, The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach.

There are some specific homeopathic remedies which are quite helpful in amnesia treatment.

Belladonna, Anacardium, Hyoscyamus, Digitalis, Arnica Montana, Plumbum Met, Mercurius, Kali Phos, Natrum Mur, Natrum Carb, Zincum Met, Hypericum, Veratrum Album also many other medicines.

Tab Content

Tab Content

1. Psychiatry, Fourth Edition- Oxford Medical Publications – SRG- by Geddes, Jonathan Price, Rebecca McKnight / Ch 26.
2. A Short Textbook of Psychiatry by Niraj Ahuja / Ch 3.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Organic Amnestic Syndrome?

The Organic Amnestic Syndrome is characterize by a prominent disorder of recent memory, additionally in the absence of the generalized intellectual impairment observed in dementia or the impaired consciousness seen in delirium.

Homeopathic Medicines used by Homeopathic Doctors in treatment of Organic Amnestic Syndrome?

• Belladonna
• Anacardium
• Digitalis
• Arnica Montana
• Plumbum Met
• Mercurius
• Kali Phos
• Natrum Mur
• Natrum Carb
• Zincum Met

What causes Organic Amnestic Syndrome?

• Thiamine deficiency
• Head trauma,
• Surgical procedure
• Hypoxia,
• Posterior cerebral artery stroke (especially; bilateral),
• Herpes simplex encephalitis, and
• Space occupying lesions in the region of III ventricle
• Carbon monoxide poisoning,
• Vascular lesions,

What are the symptoms of Organic Amnestic Syndrome?

• Recent memory severely impaired
• Short-term memory (inability to learn new material)
• Long-term memory (inability to recall previously learned material). There is however no
• Impairment of immediate memory
• Remote memory spared
• Disorientation in time
• Confabulation
• Other cognitive functions preserved