Human Development

Fugue state

Description:
In addition to hysterical amnesia, when the identity is forgotten, here the person also escapes from everyday routines and pressures. Although apparently normal, he or she wanders about with no obvious goal or becomes a tramp. Coming out of the state as though from a trance, the person then remembers his or her previous life but not the period of time the fugue state lasted. During the fugue state the person may actually take on a new identity and life, which is forgotten as soon as the state comes to an end. This is the origin of the expression ['dual personality'].