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Aug 2, 2021 · Formerly called psychogenic fugue, dissociative fugue, is a psychological state in which a person loses awareness of their identity or other important autobiographical information. This...
- Dissociative fugue is more commonly found in people who experience dissociative identity disorder. Dissociation is generally thought of as a defens...
- Dissociative fugue is a subtype of dissociative amnesia. In these two types of dissociation, a person can lose awareness of identity or personal hi...
- Dissociative identity disorder is formerly known as multiple personality disorder , where identity is fragmented into two or more personality state...
- These are not the same, though the out-of-body experience is a dissociative state. In the out-of-body experience , the person is awake but views hi...
- The onset of a dissociative fugue state is usually sudden and follows a traumatic or highly stressful event. Dissociative fugues are associated wit...
- There is no specific treatment for dissociative fugue, in part due to the rarity of the condition. The process of recovery may begin when people ex...
- There are no drugs for this. However, a health professional may need to address any co-occurring conditions; for example, patients with anxiety or...
People also ask
What does fugue mean?
What is dissociative fugue?
Is fugue a psychiatric disorder?
What is the difference between a fugue state and a dissociative fugue?
- Overview
- Possible Causes
- Care and Treatment
- When to Call the Doctor
Dissociative fugue is a symptom where a person with memory loss travels or wanders. That leaves the person in an unfamiliar setting with no memory of how they got there. This symptom usually happens with conditions caused by severe trauma. People usually regain their memories but almost always need mental health care to help them fully recover.
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OverviewPossible CausesCare and TreatmentWhen to Call the Doctor
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What are the most common causes of dissociative fugue?
Dissociative fugues are most likely to happen because of two conditions, dissociative amnesia and dissociative identity disorder.
How is dissociative fugue treated?
Dissociative fugue treatments depend on what causes it. Dissociative amnesia: When dissociative amnesia is the cause, treating this condition usually involves therapy to help you recover the missing memories. Memory recovery therapy can include techniques like hypnosis. Once your memories return (either partly or fully), you'll likely need therapy to help your process the original trauma. Dissociative identity disorder: When this condition is behind a dissociative fugue, the treatment usually involves therapy to help the personalities merge and rejoin the person who has them. It can also involve treatment and medication for other symptoms like depression or anxiety.
What can I do at home to treat this symptom?
Dissociative fugue is a problem you shouldn't try to self-diagnose or treat at home or on your own. That’s because this symptom is rare and happens with conditions that are hard to verify and diagnose, even for a trained, experienced mental health provider. A healthcare provider should evaluate any lapse or gap in your memory. That’s because memory loss is a common symptom of medical and brain conditions, some of which are dangerous or even life-threatening. People who have a fugue often feel extremely upset or disturbed as their memories return, especially when they return suddenly. That can lead to overwhelming feelings of anxiety or depression. People with this symptom also need professional mental health care to help them with the effects of the trauma behind the condition that caused the fugue state(s) to happen. More than 70% of people with dissociative identity disorder attempt suicide. Dissociative amnesia also has a high risk of self-harm or attempted suicide. Because the risk of suicide is so high, people with this need care from providers with the necessary education, training and qualifications.
How can dissociative fugue be prevented?
Dissociative fugue happens unpredictably, so it isn’t possible to prevent it. Care at Cleveland Clinic Mental Health Care Make an Appointment
When should dissociative fugue be treated by a doctor or healthcare provider?
Dissociative fugue is a symptom that happens with very complex disorders that are difficult to diagnose and treat. Because of that, a qualified provider should always treat this symptom and the related conditions. In many cases, people with dissociative fugue will regain their memories on their own. However, because the memories usually involve severe trauma, people with this symptom almost always need professional mental health services to help them with the effects of the trauma. A note from Cleveland Clinic Dissociative fugue is an uncommon symptom of a rare, severe mental health condition, and people with this symptom often develop it because of traumatic events in their past. Because of that, a qualified mental health provider should be the one to diagnose this. People with this symptom often regain their memories, and mental health treatment can help them recover from the related conditions and their effects. If you believe you have this symptom or other signs of any form of amnesia, a qualified provider can help you get the care you need so you can focus on the things happening in your life that are important to you. Medically Reviewed Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/19/2022. Learn more about our editorial process.
Dissociative fugue (/ f juː ɡ / FYOOG), formerly called a fugue state or psychogenic fugue, is a rare psychiatric phenomenon characterized by reversible amnesia for one's identity in conjunction with unexpected wandering or travel.
Aug 28, 2022 · Dissociative fugue, formerly called psychogenic fugue, is one of a group of conditions called dissociative disorders. The word fugue comes from the Latin word for "flight." People with...
Sep 6, 2023 · A dissociative fugue is an altered mental state that causes memory loss and wandering. People who experience it may be unable to remember who they are or important details about...
Oct 8, 2021 · Dissociative fugue — a type of dissociative amnesia — is an often misunderstood state. Learn about its symptoms, and read examples, here.
Dissociative fugue is a rare form of dissociative amnesia. People experiencing dissociative fugue may appear and act normal, but when the fugue ends people suddenly find themselves in a new situation with no memory of how they came to be there or what they have been doing.
