Psychogenic fugue states: a review.

In this paper we review psychologic theories on the development of fugue states, as well as organic causes of the disorder and the history of its diagnostic classification from DSM-I through DSM-III-R. We believe the diagnostic criterion that requires the patient to assume a new identity as part of the overall psychogenic fugue state should be reevaluated, since change of identity is not a consistent aspect of the syndrome as described in the psychiatric literature.