title: Transient global amnesia in legal proceedings.
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.
authors: Department of Neurology, UniversitätsMedizin Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68135, Mannheim, Germany, griebe@neuro.ma.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Griebe
authors: Hansjörg
authors: H
authors: Bäzner
authors: Micha
authors: M
authors: Kablau
authors: Michael G
authors: MG
authors: Hennerici
authors: Kristina
authors: K
authors: Szabo
mesh_terms: D020236:Amnesia, Transient Global / Q000523:psychology*; D003415:Crime / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*