Transient global amnesia in legal proceedings

• Verfasst von: Griebe, Martin [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Bäzner, Hansjörg [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Kablau, Micha [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Hennerici, Michael G. [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Szabo, Kristina [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: Transient global amnesia in legal proceedings
• Verf.angabe: Martin Griebe, Hansjörg Bäzner, Micha Kablau, Michael G. Hennerici, Kristina Szabo
• Jahr: 2015
• Umfang: 4 S.
• Fussnoten: Published online: 25 June 2014 ; Gesehen am 06.07.2017
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: International journal of legal medicine
• Ort Quelle: Berlin : Springer, 1922
• Jahr Quelle: 2015
• Band/Heft Quelle: 129(2015), 1, Seite 223-226
• ISSN Quelle: 1437-1596
• DOI: doi:10.1007/s00414-014-1038-5
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• K10plus-PPN: 1560553189

Abstract

Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a neurological disorder characterized by an acute onset of severe anterograde amnesia. While retrograde amnesia may be present - although to a lesser extent - patients have no further cognitive disturbances or neurological signs. These symptoms resolve fully within several hours leaving a permanent memory gap for the duration of the episode and do not lead to long-term neurological deficits. In addition to well-defined clinical diagnostic criteria, in up to 80 % of patients, small, point-shaped lesions in the hippocampus are detected 24-48 h after symptom onset on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images. Despite several etiological hypotheses, to date, there is no scientific proof for the etiology of TGA or the small hippocampal lesions. Interestingly, in a large number of cases, an emotionally or physically straining event precipitates the onset of TGA, suggesting a stress-related mechanism. We report two cases of TGA occurring in legally relevant settings: affecting the victim of brutal burglary and the key witness in a murder trial. In the context of forensic medicine, the knowledge of this disorder and recognition of its typical features are essential.