Fear can interrupt the continuum of memory
- University Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, GKT School of Medicine, St Thomas's Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road. London SE1 7EH, UK
In the letter by Harvey1 on page 562 of this issue, a personal instance of memory loss for the events of a life threatening accident is described. In the absence of any concussion or violent acceleration/deceleration forces, Harvey1 concludes that this was “post-traumatic amnesia in which the trauma was wholly psychological.” There are at least two interesting aspects to this account—one being what was remembered, and the other being what was not recalled.
In situations of extreme stress, some memories are enhanced, detailed, and may be recalled intrusively thereafter, whereas other items are forgotten. In the present account, Harvey notes that the front seat passenger was wearing a flowery hat, that the car was a small red Honda saloon, and that a black and white soft toy was dangling in the rear window, but he has forgotten what happened next. Fragments …
