**** woman is found wandering in another city. She has no information about her past life, identity, or name. She uses a new name and starts a new life. Which of the following conditions is the patient suffering from?

1. A

   Depersonalization disorder

2. B

   Dissociative fugue

3. C

   Dissociative identity disorder

4. D

   Dissociative amnesia

Appeared in: AIIMS M.Sc. Nsg Entrance exam-2026

Explanation

• The patient's presentation with sudden, unexpected travel to a new city ('wandering in another city') is a core feature of dissociative fugue.
• The inability to recall her past life, name, or identity ('no information about her past life, identity, or name') is the characteristic amnesia associated with this condition.
• The assumption of a new name and life ('uses a new name and starts a new life') is the defining element that completes the clinical picture of a fugue state.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: This disorder involves feelings of detachment from one's own body or thoughts (e.g., feeling like an automaton or watching oneself in a movie). It does not involve amnesia for identity or purposeful travel.
• Option C: This disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, involves the presence of two or more distinct and alternating personality states. The vignette describes the assumption of a single new identity, not multiple alternating ones.
• Option D: While the patient does have amnesia, the term 'dissociative fugue' is more specific and accurate because it includes the key elements of purposeful travel and the assumption of a new identity. According to DSM-5, a fugue is a specific type of dissociative amnesia.

Related Visual

• Visual 1: Flowchart - A decision tree to help differentiate between Dissociative Amnesia, Dissociative Fugue, Depersonalization Disorder, and Dissociative Identity Disorder based on key symptoms like travel, identity confusion, and feelings of detachment.

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Differential diagnosis of dissociative disorders based on clinical presentation to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
• The immediate nursing priority for a patient in a fugue state is to ensure their safety and well-being. These individuals are vulnerable due to their disorientation, memory loss, and lack of personal identity.
• A thorough assessment is crucial to rule out other potential causes for the symptoms, such as a neurological condition (e.g., seizure disorder, transient global amnesia), substance intoxication, or malingering (faking symptoms to escape a difficult situation).
• What if? If the woman had significant memory loss about a traumatic event but did not travel or forget her core identity, the more fitting diagnosis would be Dissociative Amnesia without the fugue specifier.

How to Approach the Question

• First, break down the clinical vignette to identify the core symptoms presented. In this case: 1) purposeful travel/wandering, 2) amnesia for personal identity and past, and 3) assumption of a new identity.
• Next, carefully evaluate each of the four options provided, which are all dissociative disorders.
• Match the cluster of symptoms from the vignette to the definition of each disorder. Recognize that 'dissociative fugue' specifically describes the combination of amnesia with travel and the creation of a new identity.
• Differentiate it from the broader 'dissociative amnesia' by noting the presence of travel and identity assumption, which makes 'fugue' the most precise and complete answer for this scenario.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Differential diagnosis of dissociative disorders based on clinical presentation.
• Stem keywords: wandering, another city, no information about past life, identity, new name, new life
• Lead-in keywords: Which of the following conditions
• Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QglzvHeo6-vbxI13rXtNTg

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