Another perspective on amnesia would be to explore which of the individual's current life tasks are being avoided, and how the symptom might facilitate that avoidance. Alfred Adler offers a provocative view of symtoms in
The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler, Chapter 12, "The Dynamic Unity of Mental Disorders," pages 299-308, by Heinz and Rowena Ansbacher. Also, look at the quotes on "Safeguarding Tendency" at
http://www.Adlerian.us/qu-safe.htm.