Dissociative Amnesia and Dissociative Fugue in a 20-Year-Old Woman With Schizoaffective Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Tobechukwu A Clouden

doi:10.7759/cureus.8289

Abstract

Dissociative amnesia is memory loss that cannot be explained by a neurological abnormality or typical forgetfulness. It belongs to the rare class of psychiatric ailments known as dissociative disorders. It can be accompanied with dissociative fugue where the individual travels or wanders away from home. This is a case of dissociative amnesia and dissociative fugue in a 20-year-old woman with schizoaffective disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Dissociative amnesia associated with dissociative fugue is an even more rare phenomenon. This case is unique in that the patient also suffered from schizoaffective disorder and it demonstrates how dissociative disorders can be comorbid with a psychotic disorder. The amnesia itself offered antipsychotic and mood-stabilizing properties as the loss of memory eliminated her psychosis and mood instability.

Highlights

Dissociative amnesia falls under the umbrella of psychiatric dissociative disorders
Dissociative disorders are a rare class of psychiatric ailments that cling to heals of trauma and stressful events
Faint pieces of memory had returned but she remained generally amnestic to those seven months. She continued to remain compliant with her psychiatric treatment, works, and does well. This case report substantiates the relationship between extremely stressful events and dissociative amnesia

Summary

Introduction

Dissociative amnesia falls under the umbrella of psychiatric dissociative disorders. Dissociative disorders are a rare class of psychiatric ailments that cling to heals of trauma and stressful events. She did not remember her group home, staff, current medications, deteriorating mental status, hospitalization five weeks ago, intensive outpatient program, place of employment, or anything else that occurred while living in the home. The hospital was flooded with calls from the patient’s case managers that offered further needed information She had been residing in a group home for the past seven months. A police officer found her wandering along the highway that morning approximately 10 miles from her place of employment He brought her to the group home where she had no memory of the staff or facility. The patient’s case workers and support staff were hesitant for her return given continued amnesia, the other residents’ fears, and previous psychosis and violence They did not feel it was appropriate for her return with such memory loss. She continued to remain compliant with her psychiatric treatment, works, and does well

Discussion

Conclusions

Disclosures

American Psychiatric Association