Dissociative Fugue Research Paper

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Dissociative Fugue Disorder What is it? Dissociative Fugue Disorder is one of those rare but common disorders. Dissociative is a rare psychiatric disorder characterized by reversible amnesia for personal identity, including the memories, personality and other identifying characteristics of individuality. The state is usually short-lived (ranging from hours to days), but can last months or longer. The word fugue comes from the Latin word for "flight." People with dissociative fugue temporarily lose their sense of personal identity and impulsively wander or travel away from their homes or places of work. People with dissociative fugue often become confused about who they are and might even create new identities. Outwardly, people with this…show more content…
They are; unexplained and unexpected travel from a person's usual place of living and working along with partial or complete amnesia. Uncertainty and confusion about one's identity, or in rare instances, the adoption of a new identity. The flight and amnesia that characterize the fugue are not related exclusively to DID, nor is it the result of substance abuse or a physical illness. An episode must result in distress or impairment severe enough to interfere with the ability of the patient to function in social, work or home setting. If symptoms are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by performing a complete medical history and physical examination. Although there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose dissociative disorders, the doctor might use various diagnostic tests such as X-rays and blood tests to rule out physical illness or medication side effects as the cause of the symptoms. Certain conditions including brain diseases, head injuries, drug and alcohol intoxication, and sleep deprivation can lead to symptoms similar to those of dissociative disorders, including…show more content…
Creative therapies (art therapy, music therapy)-These therapies allow the patient to explore and express his or her thoughts and feelings in a safe and creative way. Clinical hypnosis-This is a treatment method that uses intense relaxation, concentration and focused attention to achieve an altered state of consciousness (awareness), allowing people to explore thoughts, feelings and memories they might have hidden from their conscious minds. The use of hypnosis for treating dissociative disorders is controversial due to the risk of creating false memories. Prognosis/Prevention Most fugues are brief, lasting from less than a day to several months. Often, the disorder goes away on its own. The outlook, therefore, is quite good. Without treatment to work out the underlying problem, additional fugue episodes can occur. Although it might not be possible to prevent dissociative fugue, it might be helpful to begin treatment in people as soon as they begin to have symptoms. Further, quick intervention following a traumatic event or emotionally distressing experience might help reduce the risk of developing dissociative
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