A patient who was savagely attacked by a bear has no memory of the event. Which statement best explains the patient's inability to remember the attack?
a. The woman lost consciousness and was not cognitively aware of what happened during the attack
b. The brain has produced a chemical anemia that will repress the memories of the attack indefinitely.
c. The patient is unconsciously using a defense mechanism to protect against the re-peated memory of the attack.
d. It is a temporary suppression of the attack; her memory will return when she is physically and emotionally ready to handle the memories.
ANS: C
Defense mechanisms are used unconsciously to protect us from threats to the physical, men-tal, and social aspects of ourselves. The memory of the event may or may not come back but this is not generally related to the patient's ability to handle the memories. Memory may be lost or impaired as a result of brain trauma but not as likely from a chemical alteration.
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