False Memory Syndrome Foundation - Vol 10 No 03 - 2001 mayjune

Magazine Overview

This issue of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation Newsletter, dated May/June 2001, focuses on legal cases, memory research, and ethical considerations in psychotherapy. The cover story highlights the significant $5.08 million award in the Sawyer v. Midelfort case, where parents were falsely accused of sexual abuse due to recovered memories in their daughter.

Legal Cases and Recovered Memory

The newsletter details the Sawyer v. Midelfort case, where a Wisconsin jury found that therapists Celia Lausted and Dr. H. Berit Midelfort were responsible for implanting false memories of sexual abuse in Nancy Sawyer, leading to accusations against her parents and other family members. The case established a legal duty of care for mental health professionals towards third parties when harm is foreseeable. The article notes that the Sawyers, parents of the deceased daughter, were not patients of the therapists.

Another significant event covered is the death of Candace Newmaker during a 'rebirthing' therapy session in Colorado. A journalist described the session as a 'snuff' film, and the therapists involved are facing trial for reckless child abuse resulting in death. The newsletter points out that despite such incidents, professional organizations have not adequately protected the public or ensured therapy safety.

A substantial portion of the issue is dedicated to reviewing court decisions regarding the admissibility of repressed/recovered memory testimony. It categorizes cases as 'For' (accepting validity) and 'Against' (rejecting validity), illustrating the ongoing legal debate and the lack of scientific consensus on the phenomenon. Cases are analyzed based on whether they addressed the validity of repressed/recovered memory for tolling the statute of limitations or in other contexts.

Memory Research

The newsletter features summaries and commentary on recent memory studies. One article discusses a study by Anderson and Green in *Nature* suggesting a suppression mechanism for unwanted memories, aligning with Freudian concepts. However, memory researcher Henry Roediger III offers a nuanced perspective, noting the modest effects and the need for replication, and drawing parallels to earlier research that favored simpler explanations like differential rehearsal over repression.

Another study by McNally, Clancy, and Schacter is mentioned, which found no superior ability in individuals reporting repressed or recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse to forget trauma-related words. This challenges the notion that such individuals possess a special skill for dissociating memories.

Further research discussed includes studies on personality profiles, dissociation, and absorption in women reporting different types of childhood sexual abuse memories, and the impact of misinformation on children's eyewitness testimony.

Ethical Considerations and Informed Consent

The issue strongly advocates for informed consent in psychotherapy. An article by Allen Feld argues that the debate about informed consent should be settled, citing articles by psychiatrists that support its place in therapy. The newsletter criticizes therapists who resist informed consent, suggesting it may stem from a desire to avoid accountability for their practices, especially in the context of recovered memory therapy.

Other Sections

The newsletter includes a "Survey 2001 Update" detailing preliminary findings from a survey of FMS families, noting demographic trends and an increase in 'returners' (individuals who recant accusations). It also features a "Memory Research News" section, a "Legal Corner" summarizing legal developments, and a "From Our Readers" section with letters from France and Australia, as well as a personal account from a mother.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the devastating impact of false memory syndrome on families, the legal battles faced by parents accused of abuse, the ongoing scientific and legal debate surrounding recovered memories, and the critical need for ethical practices, including informed consent, in psychotherapy. The FMSF's stance is clearly in favor of protecting individuals from the harms of unsubstantiated recovered memory claims and advocating for scientifically-based therapeutic practices.

The FMS Foundation Newsletter, Vol. 10 No. 3, published in May/June 2001, addresses the complex and often devastating impact of the recovered memory movement and false accusations within families. The issue features personal accounts, expert opinions, and resources related to false memory syndrome.

From Accuser to Accused by Jaye D. Bartha

This deeply personal narrative recounts the author's experience of accusing her uncle of childhood prostitution, a process heavily influenced by her psychiatrist, Dr. Stratford. Initially, she grappled with conflicting memories, some from her ordinary childhood and others emerging through therapy. Dr. Stratford encouraged her to accept new memories and identify the 'predator' to achieve healing, even suggesting her parents might have been involved. The author eventually 'confessed' to the accusations, driven by the therapeutic process and a desire to believe. However, years later, after her psychiatric treatment had diminished, she realized that the timeframe of the alleged abuse coincided with her uncle's military service overseas, making the accusations impossible. This realization shifted her from 'accuser' to 'accused,' leaving her feeling like a 'hollow shell' and experiencing intense family betrayal. She notes that her family and friends are now navigating the 'raging waters of post-repressed memory therapy,' and that understanding and forgiveness can bring calm.

A Mom's Perspective: Not the Same but Still Good

This section, written by a mother, expresses her acceptance of her daughter's return to the family, acknowledging that while the family enjoys having her and her grandson back, the dynamic is not the same. She notes that her husband remains angry and hurt. The daughter's return is seen as a blessing, but the family is still careful in their interactions.

A Mom's Perspective: A Reconciliation

This piece details a week-long family therapy session involving five family members and the 'accuser.' The accuser paid for the therapist. While the first day was questionable, the second day showed progress towards reconciliation. The author notes that the 'elephant in the living room' (the unresolved issues) remains, and it is uncertain if renewed contact will be as desirable to the 'Returner' as her 'exclusive special privilege' claims. The process is described as 'a work in progress.'

We Took Care of Each Other

Another mother's perspective suggests her daughter returned because her own life was in shambles and she needed a family. The author observes that her daughter rants about minor wrongs done to others but shows no remorse for the '9 years of hell' she put her family through. The daughter's children, seeing the close-knit family, may have influenced her return. The family sent cards and messages and prayed for forgiveness. The best advice they received was to 'take care of each other.' They have accepted her back but remain cautious.

Recovered Memories: Are They Reliable?

This is a promotional piece offering free pamphlets from the FMS Foundation on the reliability of recovered memories. It encourages readers to contact the foundation for more information.

On MPD

This section quotes Dr. Park Dietz, a forensic psychiatrist, who states that people fake Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID, formerly MPD) for reasons like escaping responsibility, and that he has never found an authentic case. It also references an Associated Press article about a former counselor accused of exploiting a woman with multiple personalities.

Commentary on the Recovered-Memory Movement

Paul R. Gross provides a commentary on the 'recovered-memory movement,' noting that the devastation it has caused is increasingly acknowledged, with some wrongful convictions being overturned. He laments that the 'evil visited upon the accused and their families' has not been undone and criticizes the theories that continue to be propagated in educational institutions.

Book Review: Smiling through Tears

This section reviews the book 'Smiling through Tears' by Pamela Freyd and Eleanor Goldstein. It describes the book as a collection of over 125 cartoons that humorously depict the complex web of psychological and social elements contributing to the recovered memory movement. It includes positive quotes from Alan Gold and Mort Walker, and a recommendation from Elizabeth Loftus.

Book Review: Doctors' Disease, PC, M.D.: How Political Correctness Is Corrupting Medicine

This is a brief mention of a book by Sally Satel, reviewed in the context of the FMSF's concerns about political correctness influencing medical and psychological practices.

FMSF Newsletter Information and Contacts

The newsletter provides extensive contact information for FMSF chapters and meetings across the United States, Canada, Australia, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It also includes details on how to subscribe to the newsletter, membership information, and contact details for researchers seeking audio or video tapes of therapy sessions. The FMS Foundation's address and phone numbers are listed, along with a note about their new address and updated contact information.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The FMS Foundation Newsletter consistently advocates for a critical examination of the recovered memory movement and its therapeutic practices. The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards the validity of recovered memories, emphasizing the potential for harm to individuals and families accused based on such memories. The newsletter provides a platform for 'retractors' (individuals who recant their recovered memories) and their families, offering support and resources. It highlights the psychological and social factors that may contribute to the phenomenon and criticizes what it perceives as the influence of political correctness in psychology and medicine. The overall tone is one of concern for those wrongly accused and a desire to expose the potential dangers of certain therapeutic approaches.