Terms Related to Repressed Memory

• Catharsis

  The release of ideas, thoughts, and repressed material from the unconscious, accompanied by an emotional response and relief. (From Dorland, 28th ed)

• Memory

  Complex mental function having four distinct phases: (1) memorizing or learning, (2) retention, (3) recall, and (4) recognition. Clinically, it is usually subdivided into immediate, …

• Abreaction

  A process in psychotherapy in which the patient is “desensitized” to emotionally painful, often forgotten (repressed) memories by recalling and reacting to them in the …

• Post-Ictal Memory Loss

  Loss of the ability to form new memories beyond a certain point in time. This condition may be organic or psychogenic in origin. Organically induced …

• Retrograde Memory Loss

  Loss of the ability to recall information that had been previously encoded in memory prior to a specified or approximate point in time. This process …