Is a Traumatic Event Necessary for Dissociative Fugue? An Older Adult Case Associated with Chronic Psychosocial Stress and Caregiving Burden
Meliha Rehnuma Karaca Çolaker, Seda Kiraz, Erol Göka
Turkish Journal of Traumatic Stress January 31, 2026 DOI: 10.63175/tjts.44 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A 56-year-old woman presenting with dissociative fugue |
| Topics | PTSD |
| Key findings | The authors report a dissociative fugue episode in a 56-year-old woman who refused to disclose her identity and showed cognitive disorganization and markedly disorganized behavior, with negative toxicology and no neurological pathology on MRI, CT, or EEG. They argue that dissociative fugue can occur in later life and should be distinguished from psychotic disorders in the acute phase. |
Abstract
Dissociative amnesia refers to the inability to recall life events triggered by stressors, in the absence of a medical condition or substance use. Dissociative fugue, in contrast, is characterized by this amnesia accompanied by purposeless and bewildered wandering. Because the condition is rare and may present with psychosis-like features, dissociative fugue can easily be overlooked in clinical settings, which may negatively affect treatment outcomes. In this report, we describe a dissociative fugue episode in a 56-year-old woman. Although she was conscious when found, she refused to disclose her identity and exhibited cognitive disorganization and markedly disorganized behavior. Toxicology screening was negative for alcohol and substances, and no neurological pathology was detected on Cranial Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), or Electroencephalography (EEG). She was subsequently admitted for differential diagnosis and evaluated as having dissociative fugue. This case underscores that dissociative fugue may also occur in later life and highlights the importance of distinguishing it from psychotic disorders in the acute phase.