False Memory Syndrome Foundation - Vol 06 No 06 - 1997 june

Magazine Overview

Title: FMS Foundation Newsletter
Issue: June 1997, Vol. 6 No. 6
Publisher: FMS Foundation
Country: USA
Language: English
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Key Articles and Content

Indiana Law Requires Informed Consent for Mental Health Treatment

The lead story details a significant legislative achievement in Indiana, where Senate Bill No. 309 was signed into law, mandating that mental health providers inform patients about their training, the risks and benefits of proposed treatments, and the patient's right to withdraw consent. This law is presented as a critical step in reforming the psychotherapy industry and preventing the spread of issues related to repressed memory therapy. Christopher Barden, President of the National Association for Consumer Protection in Mental Health Practices, hailed it as a "stunning victory." The article notes that the law aims to move psychotherapy towards a more scientifically grounded practice, preventing professionals from pleading ignorance.

The Amirault Case: A New Trial Granted

Positive legal news is reported regarding Violet and Cheryl Amirault, who have been granted a new trial based on a constitutional appeal. The ruling by Superior Court Judge Isaac Borenstein found that their previous legal team had been "ineffective" in handling the case, particularly by failing to contest the lack of face-to-face confrontation in court. This decision marks the second time their convictions have been erased on constitutional grounds, highlighting the ongoing legal battles surrounding their case and the broader issue of fair trials in the context of child abuse allegations.

Discussion on Extremism and Respectful Dialogue

An article explores the nature of "extremism" in the recovered memories debate, citing Laird Wilcox's observations on how extremist style hinders understanding and discourse. Characteristics of extremist style are listed, including character assassination, name-calling, and sweeping generalizations. The piece emphasizes the importance of respectful dialogue, quoting Robert F. Kennedy on the danger of intolerance. It calls for avoiding an extremist style and fostering constructive conversations within families and among professionals.

Focus on Science: Bulimia and Childhood Sexual Abuse

This section, the last in a four-part series, examines the scientific methodology used to study the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and adult psychiatric disorders, specifically bulimia. The author, Harrison Pope, M.D., critiques studies that claim a causal link, highlighting issues of selection bias, information bias, and confounding variables. Using the analogy of alcohol and lung cancer, where cigarettes are the true cause, Pope argues that even sophisticated statistical analyses can be misleading if confounding factors (like smoking in the alcohol/lung cancer example, or potentially other factors in the bulimia study) are not properly controlled. The article concludes that while an association may be found, causality cannot be definitively established without addressing these methodological flaws.

Other Legal and Social Issues

• "Cutting Off" in Therapy: The newsletter discusses the disturbing practice of "cutting off" or detachment from family, often employed by some recovered memory therapists. It questions whether this is a legitimate therapeutic technique or a method for creating a cult-like environment.
• Elizabeth Loftus Elected President: Dr. Elizabeth Loftus, a member of the FMSF Scientific Advisory Board, has been elected President of the American Psychological Society.
• For-Profit Orphanages: A New York Times article highlights how a change in legislation has opened the door for for-profit orphanages to compete for government funding, potentially leading to a boom in private psychiatric care facilities.
• Insurance Fraud: Several reports detail cases of alleged insurance fraud within the mental health industry, including kickbacks for patient referrals and the filing of false claims.
• Patient Rights and Oversight: News items touch upon states implementing programs to allow consumers to access doctors' background information and efforts to combat Medicare and Medicaid fraud.
• Legislative Updates: Reports from Illinois and Arkansas discuss legislative efforts related to child sex-abuse charges, statutes of limitations, and the formation of family protection units to investigate child abuse.
• Therapeutic Malpractice: Cases from Arizona and Texas highlight legal challenges related to therapeutic malpractice, including claims of induced false memories and issues with statutes of limitations.

Make a Difference

This column encourages readers to take action against the harm caused by False Memory Syndrome. It provides examples of individuals and groups working to counteract the effects of FMS and suggests that subscribing to the FMSF Newsletter can help raise awareness.

Content Index

The issue includes sections on FMS News, Features, Make a Difference, Legal Corner, Focus on Science, Book Reviews, From Our Readers, and Bulletin Board, indicating a comprehensive coverage of topics relevant to the FMS Foundation's mission.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of the FMS Foundation Newsletter strongly advocates for patient rights, scientific rigor in mental health practices, and critical examination of therapeutic techniques, particularly those related to recovered memories. The editorial stance is clearly critical of practices that may lead to the creation of false memories or exploit vulnerable individuals. There is a consistent emphasis on the need for informed consent, professional accountability, and a move away from "fad-driven" psychotherapy towards evidence-based approaches. The newsletter actively promotes legal and legislative reforms to protect individuals and families affected by these issues. The tone is informative, investigative, and aims to empower readers with knowledge and encourage action.

This issue of the FMS Foundation Newsletter, Volume 6, Number 6, dated June 1997, focuses on the complex and controversial topic of recovered memories, particularly in the context of alleged childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and its legal ramifications. The newsletter features in-depth reviews of two significant books that explore these themes, alongside personal accounts from readers and information about ongoing research and foundation activities.

Book Reviews

Spectral Evidence: The Ramona Case: Incest, Memory, and Truth on Trial in the Napa Valley

Reviewed by Harrison G. Pope, Jr., M.D., this book by Moira Johnston chronicles the influential legal case of Ramona v Isabella et al. The case involved Gary Ramona suing two therapists and a hospital for allegedly implanting false memories of childhood sexual abuse in his daughter, Holly. Pope highlights the seismic implications of the trial, noting that allowing a third party to sue a therapist was a warning to the profession and could open the floodgates to lawsuits. The review details how Holly Ramona developed bulimia nervosa and subsequently began to have 'flashbacks' of alleged sexual abuse by her father. The case escalated into a high-profile legal drama, with Stephanie Ramona divorcing her husband and Holly suing her father. The review touches upon Holly's recovered memories, which included allegations of rape by her father and sexual acts with a family dog. Gary Ramona's efforts to clear his name led him to sue the therapists for malpractice. Pope, who served as an advisor to Gary Ramona, acknowledges his personal involvement but emphasizes the profound human tragedy depicted in Johnston's book. He notes that the case eventually went to trial, involving seven weeks of testimony, and was widely covered by the media.

Talk of the Devil: Repressed memory and the ritual abuse witch-hunt

Reviewed by Campbell Perry, Ph.D., this book by Richard Guilliatt focuses on a two-month legal case in Bunbury, Western Australia, involving Clive Moore, who was accused of 130 offenses of SRA (Satanic Ritual Abuse), later reduced to 42. Moore, a devout Baptist and former headmaster, maintained his innocence, stating he did not remember the alleged offenses but acknowledged they might have happened. The review highlights how the daughters' allegations appeared to corroborate each other, despite each seeing a different therapist. Guilliatt's investigation uncovered that one therapist had treated the daughters together, suggesting contamination of memories. The jury cleared Moore of 15 charges and deadlocked on the remaining 27, with the Director of Public Prosecutions declining to retry. The case cost Moore $A250,000 to defend. The book also provides capsule accounts of approximately 20 other legal cases involving repressed memory or SRA issues. Perry notes that the book traces the origins of False Memory Syndrome (FMS) in Australia, linking it to the Sixth International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect in Sydney in 1986, and discusses how the New South Wales Child Protection Council (CPC) began focusing on CSA, drawing heavily on Satanist conspiracy theories. Perry rates the book highly, calling it "that good."

Letters from Readers

From the Business Office

Tips are provided to minimize confusion and assure speedy processing of orders, memberships, and donations, including details on credit card payments and address changes.

Dear Editor (D. Stephen Lindsay, Ph.D.)

Lindsay, a cognitive psychologist, expresses concern that suggestive forms of "memory work" have led substantial numbers of non-abused clients to develop illusory memories or false beliefs of being sexually abused. He clarifies that criticisms of suggestive memory work do not imply that all recovered-memory experiences are false. He distinguishes between "ordinary forgetting" and "massive repression," arguing that scientific evidence does not compellingly support a special massive repression mechanism. However, he acknowledges that ordinary forgetting can lead to people failing to recollect past experiences, including CSA, and that these memories can be recovered. Lindsay is skeptical of cases involving years of extreme abuse recovered through suggestive memory work, but maintains that isolated instances of non-violent CSA can be forgotten and later recovered accurately.

A Mom and Dad

This letter responds to a previous column titled "Are there Others?" The authors describe their daughter's diagnosis of Multiple Personality Disorder and subsequent withdrawal from the family after entering a Chicago clinic. They express pain over the lost relationship but note tentative steps toward reconciliation, including their daughter's wedding and a recent recantation of her accusations, which she described as "cult mentality."

A Grieving Mom

This letter describes a daughter who broke free from her therapist's influence. The daughter's "retraction" was a slow reversal, and her awareness of the truth was not entirely clear. The parents stopped financing the therapy after the daughter made accusations against her father. They found support from FMSF and eventually reconnected with their daughter, who invited them to her wedding and later recanted her accusations, accepting that her thinking was similar to cult mentality.

A Mom and Dad (Baltimore Conference)

This brief note expresses enthusiasm for a well-organized conference in Baltimore, noting clear progress and thanking the staff.

A Mom and Dad (Our Group Meeting)

This letter describes a group meeting where members shared family experiences. Grace shared her daughter's plea for help when she became ill and could not care for her infant, suggesting a potential shift in her daughter's perspective.

Retraction

This section details a daughter's "retraction" of accusations made against her father. The parents had stopped financing her therapy and maintained minimal contact. The daughter eventually made tentative advances, and after being put in touch with a "retractor," she began to doubt her memories. The letter describes her wedding and a private conversation with her therapist, who did not accept the parents' criticism of his methods. The daughter later recanted her accusations with conviction and apology, accepting that her thinking was similar to cult mentality.

Correction

This section corrects an error in the previous newsletter regarding the employment of reviewer Robert McKelvey.

Research Participants Wanted

Psychologists and psychiatrists at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine are seeking volunteer participants for a study on "Memory for Facts and Contexts." The study involves learning obscure facts and recalling them, along with memory, problem-solving, and personality tests. Participants will be reimbursed $100 for their time and expenses.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The FMS Foundation Newsletter consistently addresses the complexities of recovered memories, particularly in relation to childhood sexual abuse allegations. The editorial stance, as reiterated in the letters and articles, is to acknowledge the possibility of both accurate and inaccurate recovered memories, while strongly cautioning against suggestive therapeutic techniques that may lead to the creation of false memories. The Foundation aims to support victims of actual abuse while discouraging false allegations and the creation of illusory memories. The newsletter serves as a platform for sharing personal experiences, legal case analyses, and research findings related to these issues, fostering a nuanced understanding rather than an extreme polarization of the "memory wars."