Vigilambulism

Also known as: Dromomania, Poriomania, Wandering impulse

Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.

Vigilambulism is a rarely used term for the pathological impulse to wander, which is observed as a symptom in certain psychopathic conditions. The more common term for this condition is dromomania.

Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)

VIGILAMBULISM (from Latin vigilare—to be awake and ambulare—to walk about, to roam), a rarely used term to denote an impulse for vagrancy, observed as a pathological symptom in certain psychopathic conditions. A more common term is dromomania.

Cite this page

“Vigilambulism.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/vigilambulism/