False Memory Syndrome Foundation - Vol 02 No 07 - 1993 july

Magazine Overview

Title: FMS Foundation Newsletter
Issue: Vol 2 No 7
Date: July 3, 1993

This issue of the FMS Foundation Newsletter addresses the growing tension and misconceptions surrounding False Memory Syndrome (FMS). It aims to reconcile differing views among therapists, families, and the public by examining the scientific, political, legal, therapeutic, and economic aspects of FMS.

Scientific Issues

The newsletter emphasizes that the fundamental concern of the FMS Foundation is the nature of memory. It reports that prestigious memory researchers at the Memory and Reality Conference in April 1993 found no conclusive scientific evidence for a process of repression that explains forgetting many events over years. While childhood amnesia exists, people can be influenced to remember events that did not happen. The newsletter critically examines three widely cited papers (Herman and Schatzow, 1987; Briere and Conte, 1989; Williams, 1992), concluding they support the notion that people forget many things but do not provide conclusive evidence for repressed memories of repeated events over many years. The work of Van der Kolk and Schacter and Kihlstrom is also discussed, with the latter arguing that childhood amnesia is a normal psychological phenomenon unrelated to trauma. The core scientific argument is that memories are reconstructed and reinterpreted, with some being true, some a mixture, and some false.

Political Issues

The newsletter discusses the political nature of the FMS debate, noting how media vocabulary labels accusers as "survivors" and the accused as "perpetrators." It addresses the fear that questioning repressed memories might set back progress in acknowledging child abuse. However, it stresses the importance of having criteria to examine accusations, as false accusations can make it harder to believe genuine ones. The newsletter also touches upon the feminist therapy movement's focus on societal change and how some women believe they are working for a "cultural revolution." It draws parallels between the FMS phenomenon and "cult-like" movements, citing Robert Jay Lifton's work on totalism, where the world is viewed in black and white terms.

Therapy Issues

Therapists express concern about the lack of regulation in the psychotherapy field, noting that almost anyone can operate as a therapist. They suggest FMSF could serve as a consumer advocate. The newsletter urges therapists to reflect on their assumptions and practices, questioning whether therapy should be political and what boundaries exist. It specifically questions the evidence for benefits in therapies like space alien abduction therapy and past life therapy, especially when insurance is involved. Therapists are encouraged to demand accurate, scientific information and to act with great care when dealing with accusations of abuse, remembering the principle of "do no harm."

Legal Issues

The newsletter documents several legal cases related to repressed memories. It notes that FMSF does not encourage or discourage lawsuits but provides resources. Cases discussed include:

• A $12 million lawsuit dismissed because it was filed outside the two-year limit, with the court stating it's inappropriate to tailor statutes of limitation to therapeutic goals.
• A DuPage County judge dismissing a lawsuit because the only evidence was the plaintiff's own therapist's admission that recovered memories might be fantasy.
• An Appellate Judge ruling to exclude testimony of a plaintiff who conceded having no pre-hypnotic recollection, as post-hypnotic recall is inherently unreliable.
• An Oakland Circuit Court judge dismissing a sexual abuse lawsuit due to inadequate psychological support for the "repressed memory" theory.
• A jury in Orange County, California, returning a defendant's verdict after finding that alleged events could not have happened or were too trivial to constitute abuse, rendering the "repressed memory" question moot.
• A Dallas lawyer reporting substantial six-figure settlements paid by therapists who induced false memories.
• A case in Seattle where a plaintiff's request for $3.4 million was dismissed because the court could not rely on intuition or sympathy, only on evidence, and found the plaintiff had not shown it was more probable than not that abuse occurred.
• A case in Boston where an MIT researcher was ordered to pay his daughter $500,000 based on her repressed memory of alleged rape from childhood.

Recent Legal Decisions and International Perspectives

Several recent legal decisions are highlighted, including a Wisconsin Supreme Court majority opinion stating that shifting blame is therapeutically significant but tailoring statutes of limitation to therapeutic goals is inappropriate. The newsletter also includes a piece from the London Daily Telegraph discussing the "spate of adults 'recovering memories'" in America and its expensive encouragement by some psychiatrists, contrasting it with the idea of easily-worked-through fantasies.

Reader Contributions and Personal Stories

The newsletter features several letters and personal accounts:

• "The Confrontation": A daughter accuses her father of abuse and botched abortions, demanding a confession.
• "Why?": A mother questions the belief of psychologists in such claims, wondering if it's due to trends, amateurism, or money.
• "The Restraining Order": A mother describes a restraining order against her father based on incest, rape, and murder charges, which investigators found unstable and the father claims is a result of his daughter's mental problems.
• "My Wife": A husband expresses support for his wife, a "survivor" with MPD, despite his disbelief in her recovered memories.
• "My Story": A daughter claims to have recovered memories of molestation from her father, leading to a breakthrough and a rift with her family.
• "Insurance": A husband recounts how his homeowners insurance covered legal fees and a settlement for his wife's claims.
• "My Sister": A brother describes his sister's "leave of absence" from the family, which he finds cruel and cowardly.
• "From Parents Who were Sued": Parents advise gathering written statements from siblings to counter changing accusations.
• "Dear Mom and Dad, Let's just forget what happened and be a family again.": A daughter seeks reconciliation after accusing her family.
• "Tearing Families Apart": A therapist describes the pain of family members caught between accusers and the accused.
• "Desperately Seeking Reconciliation": A father receives a note from his daughter seeking to forget the past and reunite the family.
• "Dealing with the Real Problem": A woman recounts recovering memories, accusing her family, and later realizing the harm caused, finding FMSF helpful.

Clinical Practice Literature

An article from the Mental Health Association in Tompkins County, NY, titled "Helping Sexually Abused Clients to Remember: The Use of Forceps in Psychotherapy," is reviewed. It suggests therapists believe clients' problems stem from past abuse, expect clients to not remember it, and use suggestive/invasive techniques to help them find memories. The article argues that recovering buried childhood memories is crucial for healing, likening the therapist's role to a "secular high priest" casting out "demons" (repressed memories).

Studies Reveal Suggestibility of Very Young as Witnesses

A reprint from The New York Times discusses recent studies challenging the conventional wisdom that young children's testimony is always truthful. Researchers have found that persistent questioning can lead children to fabricate elaborate accounts of events, even when they initially deny them. This research is central to the debate on how much judges and juries should rely on a child's word when it is the sole evidence of abuse. Examples of interviews with a 4-year-old boy illustrate how repeated questioning can lead to the construction of a detailed, albeit false, narrative.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The FMS Foundation Newsletter consistently advocates for scientific rigor in understanding memory and challenges the uncritical acceptance of "repressed memories." The editorial stance appears to be that while child abuse is reprehensible and should be punished, the current trend of "recovered memories" is scientifically unsupported and can lead to false accusations and the destruction of families. The foundation aims to educate the public and professionals about the nature of memory, the potential for suggestibility, and the legal implications of these issues. There is a strong emphasis on the need for evidence-based practices and a concern that the therapeutic and legal systems are being influenced by unsubstantiated theories, potentially at the expense of justice and the well-being of accused individuals.

This issue of the FMS Foundation Newsletter, dated July 3, 1993, delves into the controversial topic of "false memory syndrome," exploring the complexities of memory recall, particularly in the context of child abuse allegations. The newsletter features articles and letters from various professionals, offering different perspectives on the reliability of children's memories and the potential for therapeutic interventions to create or distort them.

Key Articles and Discussions

"Misguided therapy as bad as abuse"

This section features a letter from M. A. Harris, who recounts her personal experience with multiple personality disorder and the subsequent diagnosis of sexual abuse. She expresses relief that the truth about "victims of abuse" is emerging, suggesting that her own "repressed memories" induced by hypnosis and therapy were "drastic fables." Harris criticizes the "disparagement" from some advocates and highlights how misguided therapeutic adventurism can be as damaging as primary sexual abuse, detailing the loss of her job, husband, and children due to her prolonged therapy.

Dr. Ceci's Research on Child Memory

Several articles reference the research of Dr. Ceci, who has investigated the suggestibility of young children. His findings indicate that by the 11th week of questioning, 56 percent of children reported at least one false event as true, and some reported all false events as true. Dr. Ceci suggests that the more children are asked about something, the easier it becomes for them to fabricate a memory. He also notes that even when children recount "false memories," they are often quite believable, as demonstrated by his studies where professionals could not distinguish between true and false accounts.

Dr. Ceci's research also criticizes the use of anatomically detailed dolls in child abuse investigations, citing a study where 38 percent of children who received no genital exam indicated that a doll's genitals had been touched when prompted. When leading questions were used, 70 percent of children incorrectly indicated this. Dr. Ceci emphasizes that children are not intentionally misleading but are poor at recalling and explaining events. He also points out that the stressfulness of an event can narrow a child's perception, leading to less accurate memories.

Recommendations and Counterarguments

Based on his research, Dr. Ceci and Dr. Bruck recommend changes in child abuse investigation procedures, such as avoiding repeated suggestions and reducing reliance on anatomical dolls. They stress that young children can give accurate accounts if interviewers do not usurp their memory through suggestive questioning. Interviewers should test alternative hypotheses to avoid confirming their own biases.

However, some researchers, like Dr. Goodman, argue that these cautions are misplaced. She believes that sexually abused children are often reluctant to admit abuse, and focusing solely on avoiding suggestion might lead to fewer disclosures. Dr. Lucy Berliner from the Harborview Sexual Assault Center expresses a sense of urgency with child victims, suggesting that sometimes a coercive approach might be necessary to help a child tell what happened.

"How could this happen to my child?"

This section explores the question parents ask when confronted with accusations of abuse. George Ganaway's paper, "Dissociative disorders and psychodynamic theory: trauma versus conflict and deficit," is mentioned as offering an explanation. The excerpt suggests that in some cases, "symptom substitution" might occur, where a patient appears to be making progress by developing a new symptom (like believing they were abused) to externalize the cause of their problems and justify anger towards parents.

Letters to the Editor and Other Contributions

Paul R. McHugh, M.D., from Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, writes in response to Dr. Ablow, emphasizing the need for therapists to differentiate between genuine memories and "pseudo-memories." He advocates for a scrupulous search for corroborating evidence in all reported abuse cases and suggests that if evidence is not found, therapists should reconsider the diagnosis of false memory syndrome.

Allen Frances, M.D., is identified as the head of the work group revising the DSM-III-R.

FMSF Finances and Operations

The newsletter provides a financial overview of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 1993. Income was $365,485, with program services accounting for $210,379 and supporting services for approximately $74,000. The majority of expenses were for printing, telephone, and postage. The foundation has 10 telephone lines, a staff of 8 employees, and hundreds of volunteers.

Meetings and Events

Several sections list upcoming meetings and events for families and professionals across various regions in the US (Western States, Midwestern States, Northeastern States, Southern States) and in the UK. These meetings often focus on "Perspectives on Recovered Memories" and networking opportunities.

Publications and Resources

The newsletter lists available papers and articles related to memory and reality, including works by Emon, Ganaway, Loftus, McHugh, Singer, Gardner, Hochman, Nufer, Safran, Sharkey, Meacham, Taub, and Watters. It also announces the upcoming availability of "True Stories of False Memories" by Eleanor Goldstein and Kevin Farmer.

Subscription Information

Details are provided for subscribing to the FMSF Newsletter, with rates for USA, Canada, and foreign subscribers. The newsletter is published 10 times a year.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the critical examination of "recovered memories" and the potential for false memory syndrome to arise, particularly in the context of child abuse allegations. The FMS Foundation appears to advocate for a cautious approach to memory recall, emphasizing the need for corroborating evidence and questioning the reliability of memories elicited through suggestive therapeutic techniques. The editorial stance leans towards questioning the validity of unsubstantiated claims of abuse, while acknowledging that genuine abuse does occur. There is a clear emphasis on the potential for therapeutic practices to inadvertently create or distort memories, leading to significant personal and familial distress.