Dissociative Fugue - A Form of Amnesia

What Is Dissociative Fugue?

A form of dissociative amnesia that is not very prevalent is called dissociative fugue. A dissociative fugue can last for a few hours to many months and, in some cases, even longer. Some fugues appear to be veiled desires for fulfillment or the sole permissible means of evading extreme discomfort or embarrassment. In contrast to malingering, dissociative fugue happens naturally and is not fabricated.

What Are the Causes of the Condition?

These circumstances typically include a history of major or recurring trauma:

• Adolescent sexual abuse.

• Exposure to violence.

• Combat brutality.

• Suicide attempt.

• Automobile crash.

• Natural calamities.

• Executing a murder.

• Dissociation is also more common among family members of those with dissociative disorders, suggesting a hereditary link.

What Are the Symptoms?

Depending on the situation, they could contain the following signs and symptoms if one person is experiencing a fugue state:

• Identity dilemma.

• Appearing uncertain of the past.

• If the identity is questioned, people may have feelings of confrontation.

• However, it is critical to realize that a person experiencing dissociative fugue may also not exhibit any external symptoms of mental illness. From the individual's perspective, the new identity is the genuine identity. Issues may arise solely if this is contested.

When the state of confusion is over, the following symptoms may manifest:

• Depressive sentiments.

• Mourning periods.

• Shameful emotions.

• Discomfort or hostility.

• Unease related to being in an unfamiliar place.

• A sensation of losing track of time.

What Are the Other Conditions Similar to the Disease?

• Dissociative Amnesia: A form of amnesia known as dissociative amnesia causes certain memories to become unavailable to the patient. This is usually the result of one or more experiences that were exceptionally stressful. Memory loss is a defense mechanism that keeps a person from remembering distressing or traumatic events in their past. Stress can also contribute to the development of the condition, particularly when an individual is forced to deal with abrupt changes such as the termination of a significant relationship, challenges in their professional or financial lives, or the passing of a family member or other close friend.

However, the incidence of this syndrome is much higher in individuals who are designated female at birth. It is not unusual for dissociative identity disorder to occur together with this syndrome, although it is unusual for this condition to exist on its own.

• Disorder Characterized by Dissociative Identities: The term "multiple personality disorder" was once commonly used to refer to dissociative identity disorder (DID); however, specialists in mental health no longer use the term. The primary symptom is the experience of the individual having two or more identities, which can cause them to feel possessed or have no control over their thoughts and actions. Each of the personas has their particular voice, behavior, and recollections while they are in various settings.

Those who have this condition almost always develop it as a result of substantial trauma they experienced as children, such as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. Personalities are frequently developed as a means of self-protection following traumatic experiences. DID affects the population, even though the exact prevalence of this disorder is debatable. Dissociative fugue is a symptom that usually accompanies this condition. This is a result of the reality that various personalities do not typically share memories.

What Is the Diagnostic Method?

Evaluation of symptoms and elimination of possible medical disorders as possible causes is a common step in the diagnostic process. In most cases, testing and diagnosis will include referral to a mental health professional for diagnosis. Evaluation may include the following:

• Physical Examination - It performs an exam, questions individuals in great detail, and considers both current symptoms and past medical history. Memory loss and a feeling of being disconnected from reality are two symptoms that can be caused by medical conditions that can be ruled out by particular tests. These conditions include head trauma, certain brain diseases, lack of sleep, and alcoholism.

• Test of Psychological Functioning - In addition to explaining symptoms, the professional who is assessing mental health will question thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Information provided by families or other individuals, with consent, may be helpful. Diagnostic requirements are outlined in the DSM-5. The mental health professional may evaluate symptoms in light of the diagnostic criteria outlined.

What Is the Treatment Method?

The purpose of treating dissociative fugue is to assist the individual in dealing with the pressure or trauma that produced the fugue. The treatment also seeks to build new coping strategies to prevent future bouts of fugue. The optimal treatment technique depends on the patient and the intensity of their symptoms but will probably include a few of the following:

• Psychotherapy - A form of psychotherapy, is the most effective therapy for dissociative disorders. This treatment employs tactics aimed at promoting conflict communication and enhancing problem comprehension. Cognitive therapy is a sort of psychotherapy that focuses on altering problematic thought processes and the feelings and actions that emerge from them.

• Medication - There are no proven medications for the treatment of dissociative disorders. If an individual with a dissociative illness additionally has sadness or anxiety, they might gain from antidepressant, antianxiety, or antipsychotic medicine.

• Family Therapy - Family therapy aids in educating the family about the condition and its origins, as well as assisting family members in recognizing recurrent symptoms. These treatments allow patients to explore and communicate their emotions and beliefs creatively and safely.

• Clinical Hypnosis - Clinical hypnosis is a therapy procedure that uses profound relaxation and concentration, with focused attention, to induce an altered level of consciousness (awareness), enabling individuals to explore ideas, emotions, and memories they may have repressed. It is problematic to employ hypnosis to treat dissociative disorders due to the possibility of making artificial memories.

Conclusion:

The psychiatric illness known as dissociative fugue, which was originally known as psychogenic fugue, is classified as one of a set of conditions known as dissociative disorders. Dissociative disorders are characterized by failures or interruptions in the unification of consciousness, memory, perception, identity, or emotion. These failures or disruptions can be transitory or persistent. The terms dissociative amnesia, fugue, depersonalization disorder, dissociative identity disorder, and dissociative disorder not otherwise described are all included in the category of dissociative disorders.

Psychotherapy is the modality of choice for the treatment of dissociative fugue. The patient's family and other members are given psychoeducation, and efforts are made to identify the stressors that occurred before the onset of the condition. An attempt is made to lessen the impact of any stressors that can bring on another episode. Yet, if a patient continues to be confused, it is of the utmost importance to guarantee the patient's safety and ensure that they are in good health. It is possible that medication therapies will be required because dissociative fugue is frequently associated with other psychiatric conditions.