I thank Dr. Sethi for relating this story after reading my article. [1] It is a testament to the myth's strength that the reporter did not consider alternate diagnostic possibilities but simply frames the soldier 's story as a second blow amnesia cure.
It is assumed the soldier suffered an initial brain injury, causing identity loss. The myth of a blow to the head causing "identity loss" amnesia is widely believed by the public (80%). [2] He was reportedly with 2 others during the accident, but were they questioned? Furthermore, the soldier's memory was restored with the presumed physicial jolt, but belief and/or mental health status were not considered. In another case, following a car accident, a woman's belief that sleep contributed to memory loss (as seen in the movie "50 First Dates") appeared to be a contributing factor in her ability to remember information from the previous day. [3]
Multiple possibilities, including an amnesic fugue state, should be considered by those evaluating the soldier, but any evidence found that contradicts the myth will probably not get the same press coverage.
1. Spiers MV. The head trauma amnesia cure: The making of a medical myth. Neurology 2016;86:2291-2294.
2. Guilmette TJ, Paglia MF. The public's misconception about traumatic brain injury: a follow up survey. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2004;19:183-189.
3. Smith CN, Frascino JC, Kripke DL, McHugh PR, Treisman GJ, Squire LR. Losing memories overnight: A unique form of human amnesia. Neuropsychologia 2010;48:2833-2840.
For disclosures, please contact the editorial office at journal@neurology.org.
I thank Dr. Sethi for relating this story after reading my article. [1] It is a testament to the myth's strength that the reporter did not consider alternate diagnostic possibilities but simply frames the soldier 's story as a second blow amnesia cure.
It is assumed the soldier suffered an initial brain injury, causing identity loss. The myth of a blow to the head causing "identity loss" amnesia is widely believed by the public (80%). [2] He was reportedly with 2 others during the accident, but were they questioned? Furthermore, the soldier's memory was restored with the presumed physicial jolt, but belief and/or mental health status were not considered. In another case, following a car accident, a woman's belief that sleep contributed to memory loss (as seen in the movie "50 First Dates") appeared to be a contributing factor in her ability to remember information from the previous day. [3]
Multiple possibilities, including an amnesic fugue state, should be considered by those evaluating the soldier, but any evidence found that contradicts the myth will probably not get the same press coverage.
1. Spiers MV. The head trauma amnesia cure: The making of a medical myth. Neurology 2016;86:2291-2294.
2. Guilmette TJ, Paglia MF. The public's misconception about traumatic brain injury: a follow up survey. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2004;19:183-189.
3. Smith CN, Frascino JC, Kripke DL, McHugh PR, Treisman GJ, Squire LR. Losing memories overnight: A unique form of human amnesia. Neuropsychologia 2010;48:2833-2840.
For disclosures, please contact the editorial office at journal@neurology.org.