Commentary: A response to Wortzel and Arciniegas about amnesia and crime.
The review by Wortzel and Arciniegas of the phenomenology and neuroanatomy of memory is a welcome complement to our psychiatric clinical perspective on the concept of amnesia in relation to crime. The authors raise their concerns in noting that certain concepts referred to in the literature are inconsistent with the phenomenology and neurobiology of memory. In response, we clarify the DSM-IV-TR nomenclature and provide information on current research exploring various mechanisms outlining memory impairment and other neurocognitive deficits in schizophrenia and other psychoses. In relation to amnesia and crime, the practice of forensic psychiatry requires the expert to be able to consider the validity of amnesia claims in criminal proceedings, translate scientific knowledge into a language accessible to the court, and provide an opinion. As such, a psychiatric clinical approach to the concept of amnesia in relation to crime provides a useful framework.
Bourget
Dominique
D
Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. dbourget@rohcg.on.ca
Whitehurst
Laurie
L
D000647:Amnesia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology*; D003702:Delusions / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D007298:Insanity Defense; D008568:Memory; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D009626:Terminology as Topic