Mental Health Technician Certification (AMCA) Practice Test

A client who has driven to another state with no recollection of the journey is likely experiencing which condition?

1. Amnesia

2. Dissociative fugue

3. Post-traumatic stress disorder

4. Psychogenic amnesia

The correct answer is: Dissociative fugue

The condition most consistent with a client driving to another state with no recollection of the journey is dissociative fugue. This specific dissociative disorder is characterized by sudden, unexpected travel away from home along with an inability to recall one’s past, often including personal history and identity. In dissociative fugue, individuals may take on new identities or may not remember who they are, resulting in a significant disruption in their personal life. The act of driving to another state without recollection aligns with the symptoms of this disorder, indicating a temporary loss of identity and memory related to their past experiences. Other options, such as amnesia or psychogenic amnesia, refer to memory loss but do not incorporate the aspect of unplanned travel or identity loss associated with dissociative fugue. Post-traumatic stress disorder involves symptoms related to experiencing or witnessing traumatic events, which does not typically present in the manner described in this scenario. Thus, the occurrence of driving without memory fits firmly within the framework of dissociative fugue.