Dissociative Fugue: Diagnosis, Presentation and Treatment Among the Traditional Shona People

ABSTRACT

Dissociative fugue seems to exist in all societies of the world. It could be noticeable but its prevalence in the general population is very low. Different societies of the world could identify dissociative fugue in different culturally relevant terms. The objective of the study was to assess the diagnosis, presentation and treatment of dissociative fugue among the traditional Shona people of Zimbabwe. The case study research methodology was used in this study to describe the diagnosis, presentation and treatment of dissociative fugue-related behaviours among the traditional Shona people. Participants were two men who were presenting with dissociative fugue–related behaviours before the study. An ethnopsychological approach was used to analyse the behaviours and treatment methods used by the traditional Shona people. The results of this study were that, although the diagnosis and treatment methods of the Shona were different from Western procedures, their methods of treating dissociative fugue-related behaviours were found to be useful in treating dissociative fugue-related disorders in a culturally relevant manner. The findings of the study are expected to prompt further research to establish the therapeutic efficacy of the traditional Shona methods of diagnosing and treating dissociative fugue-related disorders in an African context.

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