Dissociative fugue (/fjuːɡ/ FYOOG), previously referred to as a fugue state or psychogenic fugue, is a rare psychiatric condition characterized by reversible amnesia regarding one's identity, often accompanied by unexpected travel or wandering. In some cases, individuals may assume a new identity and be unable to recall personal information from before the onset of symptoms. It is classified as a mental and behavioral disorder and is variously categorized as a dissociative disorder, a conversion disorder, or a somatic symptom disorder. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), dissociative fugue is a subset of dissociative amnesia.
Recovery from a fugue state typically results in the restoration of prior memories, and additional treatment is generally unnecessary. Episodes are not considered dissociative fugue if attributable to psychotropic substances, physical trauma, general medical conditions, or disorders such as dissociative identity disorder, delirium, or dementia. Dissociative fugue is often triggered by prolonged traumatic experiences and is most frequently associated with individuals who experienced childhood sexual abuse, during which they developed dissociative amnesia to suppress memories of the abuse.
