False Memory Syndrome Foundation - Vol 03 No 03 - 1994 mar

Magazine Overview

This issue of the FMS Foundation Newsletter, dated March 8, 1994, addresses the ongoing controversy surrounding recovered memories of child sexual abuse, the role of therapists, and the impact on families. The newsletter highlights the FMS Foundation's efforts to provide accurate information and counter what it perceives as a crisis fueled by 'belief systems' and unscientific practices.

Key Articles and Discussions

The 'Cook' Lawsuit and the Need for Accurate Information

The newsletter opens by referencing the dismissal of a lawsuit against Cardinal Bernardin and the courage of individuals like 'Cook' who admit to mistakes. It emphasizes that issues surrounding recovered memories are not political but criminal, affecting the lives of individuals, particularly children. The FMS Foundation stresses the desperate need to disseminate accurate information about the nature of memory and memory enhancement techniques to both the public and the professional community. It acknowledges that people may change their minds as more is learned about the reconstructive nature of memory and questions the circular thinking that can arise when forgetting is seen as proof of an event.

Immediate Crisis and Long-Term Solutions

The FMS Foundation outlines both an immediate crisis and a long-term issue. The immediate crisis involves assisting families torn apart by recovered memory claims and re-examining cases of individuals imprisoned based on such memories. The long-term solution involves institutional changes in education and better licensing and monitoring of mental health workers. They propose that professional organizations must establish a 'standard of practice' for cases involving sexual abuse memories in therapy and advocate for comprehensive medical and psychiatric evaluations for all parties involved.

Growth of the Foundation and Volunteer Support

A chart illustrates the steady growth in the number of families contacting the Foundation, noting that the staff has not grown proportionally. The newsletter expresses gratitude to volunteers who help answer calls, respond to mail, and send out information, highlighting the significant effort involved.

Patterns in FMS Phenomenon

The newsletter identifies several patterns that have caused alarm regarding the FMS phenomenon: the use of memory enhancement techniques (hypnosis, sodium amytal, dream interpretation, guided imagery, body massages), refusal to discuss the issue, and families being cut off from contact.

Media Recognition and Conference Postponement

The FMS Foundation observes that the issue of FMS is now recognized by the media and most professionals, marking it as no longer an emerging crisis but one that needs solving. Consequently, they are postponing their announced national conference to refocus their direction. Continuing education programs for professionals are planned, including one sponsored by the University of Kansas and another at Johns Hopkins University.

Facilitated Communication (FC) Under Scrutiny

A significant portion of the newsletter is dedicated to examining Facilitated Communication (FC). It references documentaries from CBS's '60 Minutes' and PBS's 'Frontline' that present evidence suggesting FC is based on 'belief' rather than science. Experiments are described where therapists' pictures, not the children's, were reported, demonstrating that the reports originated from the therapists. The newsletter highlights the dramatic impact of FC, including children being removed from homes and legal actions based on alleged abuse.

The Gulf Between Memory Researchers and Therapists

The newsletter points out a significant difference in perspectives between memory researchers and therapists. While researchers emphasize the reconstructive nature of memory and the potential for confabulation, many therapists operate under the assumption that recovered memories are accurate. The article cites experts like Ronald Salafia, who states that memories from infancy are highly suspect and not stored retrievably, and refutes the 'videotape' theory of memory. Conversely, therapists like Mignon Lawless advocate for methods that can bring back memories of sexual abuse, believing that the body stores these memories.

'Truth Serum' and Amytal Interviews

An inquiry about 'truth serum' (Sodium Amytal) is addressed. The article explains that Amytal is a barbiturate that induces a drowsy, relaxed state. Historically, it was believed that people under Amytal could not lie. However, research has shown that Amytal can cause distorted memory, altered time sense, and make patients vulnerable to suggestion. The article concludes that Amytal interviews are unreliable for determining what really happened and that statements made under its influence must be externally verified.

Vagaries of Memory and Cult Thinking

Discussions on 'Vagaries of Memory' explore the challenges families face when accusations change and the difficulty in defending against them. The article touches upon the concept of 'cult thinking' and how some professionals are perceived as being part of or promoting such ideologies. It references statements from Dr. Corydon Hammond, who suggests that those who deny satanic ritual abuse memories may be naive, intellectually skeptical, or cult members themselves. The newsletter also details the sophisticated mind-control techniques allegedly used in cults to produce multiples and control individuals from early childhood.

Personal Accounts and Family Betrayal

The newsletter includes several personal accounts from parents and family members. One account describes a difficult visit with a daughter who had accused her parents of sexual abuse, highlighting the emotional toll and the perceived influence of therapy. Another letter from a mother expresses guilt and remorse for past actions, attributing them to being controlled by drugs and doctors, and seeking forgiveness. The newsletter also features an excerpt from 'The Crucible' by Arthur Miller, reflecting on vengeance and accusations.

The FMSF's Role and Challenges

The FMS Foundation positions itself as a resource for those falsely accused and for understanding the complexities of memory. They acknowledge facing criticism and being labeled 'the enemy' by some professionals. The newsletter emphasizes the importance of scientific evidence and critical thinking in addressing issues of memory and abuse.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the controversy surrounding recovered memories of child sexual abuse, the perceived unreliability of certain therapeutic practices (like Facilitated Communication and Amytal interviews), and the FMS Foundation's role as an advocate for scientific accuracy and support for falsely accused families. The editorial stance is critical of therapeutic approaches that rely heavily on 'belief' rather than verifiable evidence, and it champions the need for rigorous scientific investigation into memory and trauma. The newsletter advocates for a balanced approach that acknowledges the possibility of both true and false memories, while urging caution and critical evaluation of claims, especially in legal contexts.

This issue of the FMS Foundation Newsletter, dated March 1994, focuses on the complex topic of recovered memories, particularly in the context of child sexual abuse allegations. The primary content revolves around a bibliography provided by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in response to inquiries about their statement on memories of sexual abuse. The newsletter questions whether the APA's listed references clarify the issue of corroboration for these memories.

Bibliography of the American Psychiatric Association

The issue begins by referencing a statement from the American Psychiatric Association, specifically paragraph 10, which suggests that individuals recovering memories of abuse have found corroborating information. This statement prompted families to inquire if 'corroboration' implies independent, scientific evidence. The APA provided a list of selected references used in developing their statement, and the newsletter aims to review these to answer the question of whether they clarify the issue.

The bibliography itself is extensive, listing numerous articles and books from various journals and publications, primarily from the late 1980s and early 1990s. These entries cover a wide range of topics related to memory, trauma, and abuse, including:

• Memory and Murder: Appelbaum PS discusses memories and murder in the context of psychiatry.
• Sexual Abuse Accusations: Berliner and Loftus examine the complexities of sexual abuse accusations, acknowledging the possibility of both genuine cases and false accusations, and the importance of objective discourse.
• Factors Affecting Recall: Benedek and Schetky's two-part series explores factors influencing a child's perception and recall of events in sexual abuse allegations, including developmental and emotional factors, and the clinical evaluation of such allegations.
• Sudden Recall: Bower's article in Science News addresses the disagreement among mental health experts regarding the validity of repressed childhood sexual abuse memories that resurface years later, contrasting the views of those who believe in repression and those who emphasize the potential for memory distortion.
• Self-Reported Amnesia: Briere and Conte study adult self-reported amnesia for abuse experienced in childhood, identifying factors predictive of abuse-related amnesia (ARA).
• Child Witness Suggestibility: Ceci and Bruck review the historical context and current understanding of child witness suggestibility, highlighting cognitive, social, and biological factors.
• Procedural Organization of Emotions: Clyman discusses how memory processes influence psychoanalysis, distinguishing between declarative and procedural memories and their impact on emotional functioning and therapeutic change.
• Hypnosis and Recollection: The Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Medical Association reports on a study finding that recollections obtained during hypnosis are less reliable than nonhypnotic recall, with potential serious consequences for the legal process.
• Biases of Retrospection: Dawes examines biases in retrospection.
• Autobiographical Recall: Fivush explores developmental perspectives on autobiographical recall.
• Childhood Memory: Siegel presents theoretical and personal perspectives on childhood memory.
• Declarative and Nondeclarative Memory: Squire discusses multiple brain systems supporting learning and memory, contrasting explicit and implicit memory abilities.
• Childhood Traumas: Terr provides an outline and overview of childhood traumas, categorizing them into Type I and Type II, and discusses their characteristics and impact.
• Early Memories of Trauma: Terr also studies what happens to early memories of trauma in children under age five.
• Recovery and Verification of Memories: Herman and Schatzow examine the recovery and verification of memories of childhood sexual trauma among incest survivors, noting the role of validation and corroboration.
• Dissociative Disorders: Hornstein and Putnam compare the clinical phenomenology of child and adolescent dissociative disorders.
• Therapeutic Role in Child Abuse: Lief discusses the challenge for psychiatry in defining an appropriate therapeutic role when child abuse is suspected.
• Reality of Repressed Memories: Loftus addresses the concept of repression in psychology and the recent rise in reported memories of childhood sexual abuse, questioning their commonality and how jurors and judges might react.
• Psychiatric Misadventures: McHugh critiques cultural fashions in psychiatry that have led to what he terms 'false and disastrous directions,' including the diagnosis of multiple personality disorder caused by sexual abuse.
• Autobiographical Memory: Nelson discusses the psychological and social origins of autobiographical memory and its relation to infantile amnesia.
• Investigatory Independence: White and Quinn present a conceptual framework for analyzing the degree of contamination during investigations of child sexual abuse, focusing on evaluator independence.

Correction and Contact Information

The newsletter includes a correction notice to obtain the full News Release of the American Psychiatric Association statement on Memories of Sexual Abuse, providing a mailing address for the APA. It also provides an email address for those wishing to receive notices of radio and television broadcasts about FMS.

FMS Foundation Information

Information is provided about the FMS Foundation, stating it is a qualified 501(c)3 corporation based in Philadelphia. It clarifies that the Foundation has no affiliates and that no other organization or person is authorized to speak for it without prior written approval. Membership dues and contributions should be sent to the Foundation.

An update is requested for the Information Update Survey from the February Newsletter, emphasizing its importance for updating files and documenting the phenomenon.

A statement is made regarding medical products with numerous complaints, suggesting they would be recalled, and contrasting this with the lack of procedures for examining the 'product' (presumably the phenomenon of recovered memories) despite two years of FMS Foundation contact.

Subscription rates for the FMSF Newsletter are listed, along with single issue prices. The newsletter is published 10 times a year and included with membership.

The FMS Foundation's address, phone number, and Executive Director, Pamela Freyd, Ph.D., are provided. A comprehensive list of the FMSF Scientific and Professional Advisory Board members is also included, featuring numerous academics and professionals in psychology, psychiatry, and related fields.

Meetings and Events

The newsletter includes a detailed listing of upcoming FMSF meetings and events across the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. These meetings are for families and professionals working together and include specific dates, locations, and contact persons.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the critical examination of recovered memories, particularly those related to childhood sexual abuse. The FMS Foundation appears to adopt a skeptical stance, questioning the validity and corroboration of such memories and highlighting research that points to the potential for memory distortion, suggestibility, and the influence of therapeutic practices. The newsletter emphasizes the need for rigorous scientific inquiry and independent validation, contrasting the handling of such claims with standard medical product recalls. The editorial stance is one of caution and a call for a more evidence-based approach to understanding and addressing allegations of recovered memories of abuse.