Abstract
Amnestic syndrome includes an impairment of both short-term and long-term memory, while working memory is preserved. No qualitative disturbance of consciousness or dementia are present.
We describe two cases of patients with the diagnosis of amnestic syndrome. In alcohol-induced amnestic syndrome, we consider alcohol-induced dementia, Korsakoff's psychosis, and Wernicke's encephalopathy as possible differential diagnoses.
Impairments of perfusion of the brain tissue with a resulting hypoxia may occur in patients with a cardiac arrhytmia, and an implanted electronic cardiac pacemaker. The "pacemaker syndrome", which is not very well known in a common psychiatric practice, may rarely be accompanied by psychopathology.
The clinical picture was similar in both presented cases, but there were some differences in the etiology, pathogenesis, and prognosis. The most important part of the treatment is to remove the cause of the disease.