Dissociative amnesia with fugue following a suicide attempt: a rare clinical intersection of identity loss and suicidal ambivalence: a case report - Takeaways - MDSpire

Dissociative amnesia with fugue following a suicide attempt: a rare clinical intersection of identity loss and suicidal ambivalence: a case report

  • By

  • Mohammed Salah Alfahal

  • Mohamed Hassan

  • Maryam Alowais

  • June 11, 2026

  • 0 min

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  • 1

    Dissociative amnesia with fugue is characterized by abrupt loss of autobiographical memory and identity disruption, often triggered by severe psychological stress.

  • 2

    The case presented involves a 50-year-old man who developed profound retrograde amnesia following a suicide attempt, retaining general cognition and language abilities.

  • 3

    Diagnosis of dissociative amnesia with fugue requires exclusion of organic causes and relies on longitudinal psychiatric assessment.

  • 4

    The patient's selective memory loss supports the retrieval inhibition model, where stress inhibits access to identity-related memories without brain injury.

  • 5

    This case highlights the complex relationship between identity, memory, and psychological survival in acute psychiatric emergencies.

Original Source(s)

Dissociative amnesia with fugue following a suicide attempt: a rare clinical intersection of identity loss and suicidal ambivalence: a case report

  • by Mohammed Salah Alfahal, Mohamed Hassan, Maryam Alowais

  • June 11, 2026

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