False Memory Syndrome Foundation - Vol 13 No 01 - 2004 janfeb

Magazine Overview

Title: FALSE MEMORY SYNDROME FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER
Issue: Vol. 13 No. 1
Date: January/February 2004

This issue of the FMSF Newsletter addresses the current state of survivor newsletters, delves into significant legal cases involving recovered memory and child sexual abuse allegations, and pays tribute to two influential figures in the field.

Survivor Newsletters: Where Are They Now?

The lead article, prompted by a reader's inquiry, surveys the landscape of survivor newsletters. The FMSF staff found that out of more than 40 newsletters that existed, only a small fraction are still active. Many have ceased publication, moved to electronic formats, or are no longer publishing regularly. The newsletter itself, now in its thirteenth year, is noted as one of the few survivors. "Many Voices," a newsletter for individuals with MPD/DID, is highlighted as one of the most active survivor newsletters currently.

The article reflects on the enduring concern for issues that initially brought people together, contrasting the impact of the recovered memory movement with how other industries would respond to harm caused by their products. It suggests that professional organizations and those with vested interests in dissociative units and memory-recovery techniques have maintained the status quo. However, the cultural support for the "recovered-memory frenzy" has diminished. The FMSF archives are emphasized as crucial for understanding the development and addressing of the recovered memory problem.

Legal Cases and Accountability

The newsletter details several legal cases that demonstrate the impact of "misguided therapists, unacceptable investigations, and overzealous prosecutions." These cases are presented as forces for change, pushing for accountability.

• Parlato case (New York): This case involved a grandmother seeking visitation rights with her grandson, Shane. The court found that Shane's mother's claims of abuse by her own mother (the grandmother) were likely influenced by therapy and pressure, and granted supervised visitation, deeming it in the child's best interest.
• Klassen case (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan): Justice George Baynton allowed a malicious prosecution lawsuit to proceed, filed by individuals charged with ritualistic abuse. The judge noted that the police investigation relied heavily on unreliable interviews with children, and that the plaintiffs were likely not guilty.
• Fairlie case (England): James Fairlie, suing the National Health Service and social services, brought the first English case against a clinic for memory recovery techniques. His daughter, Katrina, developed claims of abuse after being treated for psychosomatic symptoms.
• Wenatchee cases (Washington): Lawsuits stemming from the 1994-95 investigations and convictions related to child abuse allegations are expected to continue for years. Over three dozen lawsuits have been filed, with defendants agreeing to pay plaintiffs at least $10 million to date.
• William Greene case (Washington): Greene was convicted of sexual assault and sentenced to life under the "three-strikes" law. His defense argued he had multiple personalities, but a federal appeals court found his trial flawed because experts were not allowed to testify. Greene is also facing trial for murder.
• David Hoult case (Massachusetts): Hoult was arrested and sent to prison after his daughter Jennifer was awarded $500,000 in a lawsuit claiming decades of molestation. Hoult's defense relied on the implausibility of the memories, without presenting expert witnesses.

In Memoriam: Margaret Thaler Singer

The newsletter commemorates the passing of Margaret Thaler Singer, Ph.D., an FMS Advisor and world-renowned expert on cults and brainwashing. Her testimony was crucial in high-profile cases, and she co-authored seminal works on false memory syndrome and cults. She was also recognized for her work in schizophrenia and was a founding member of the FMSF.

In Memoriam: Ralph C. Underwager

Ralph C. Underwager, Ph.D., is also remembered. A former Lutheran minister and psychologist, he founded the Institute for Psychological Therapies. He was known for his calm advice to families devastated by accusations of child abuse and for cautioning about the importance of careful interviewing to prevent the formation of false memories. He was an advocate for falsely accused individuals, which created enemies.

Scientific and Professional Discourse

The issue references articles in prestigious journals like the *British Journal of Psychiatry* and the *Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)*. A study in the *British Journal of Psychiatry* by Coid et al. found that childhood physical abuse, particularly severe beatings, was more strongly associated with adverse mental health outcomes than childhood sexual abuse. Dr. Paul Mullen commented that the emphasis on child sexual abuse may distract from other forms of abuse and neglect.

Richard McNally's book, *Remembering Trauma*, is reviewed and highly recommended for its concise summary of memory theories and its critique of recovered memory therapists. The review praises the book for restoring faith in reason and avoiding "political correctness."

The newsletter also notes the sanctioning of a Pennsylvania social worker, Patricia Neuhausel, by the National Association of Social Workers for violating ethical codes through techniques like "detachment" and "rage work."

Personal Testimonies and Reflections

Several letters from readers offer personal perspectives:

• "I Can't Even Imagine": A mother expresses difficulty understanding how families reconcile with a returner who is willing to "forgive and forget," describing her own daughter's estrangement and her careful approach to potential reconciliation.
• "We Sent Flowers": A parent shares a positive update on reconnecting with their daughter after 11 years of estrangement, attributing the breakthrough to sending flowers on her birthday and continuing communication.
• "I Doubted We Would See Daughter's Return": This account details a family's devastation after their daughter embraced repressed memory therapy, leading to estrangement. They eventually re-established contact after years of effort and found hope for reconciliation.
• "Will It Never End?": A reader shares the experience of a co-worker whose son cut off contact, attributing it to therapy and repressed memories. The reader expresses heartbreak over the ongoing nature of such issues.
• "Missing a Hug": A grandmother describes the joy of seeing her granddaughter compete in a world competition on television after 15 years of separation, highlighting the longing for physical connection.
• "Unconditional Love": This letter recounts a reconciliation between parents and their estranged fourth daughter after a decade, initiated by the parents offering help during a difficult time for the daughter.

More Thoughts on Wisconsin Conference

The newsletter notes a shift in focus at the Wisconsin recovered memory conference, with attendance and the intensity of the "hysteria" decreasing. The author attributes this change partly to the educational work of the FMS Foundation and to lawsuits, suggesting the craze may be self-limiting.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The FMSF Newsletter consistently maintains a critical stance towards the recovered memory movement, emphasizing scientific evidence, legal accountability, and the potential for iatrogenic harm. The publication serves as a platform for sharing research that challenges the tenets of recovered memory therapy, reporting on legal cases that have resulted from such claims, and providing a space for personal testimonies from families affected by these issues. The editorial stance advocates for a more cautious and evidence-based approach to trauma and memory, often highlighting the negative consequences of uncritical acceptance of recovered memory claims and the importance of considering physical and emotional abuse alongside sexual abuse allegations. The newsletter also champions the work of researchers and clinicians who have questioned the recovered memory phenomenon. The overall tone is one of seeking truth, promoting critical thinking, and supporting those who have been harmed by what they perceive as flawed therapeutic practices and societal trends.

The FMS Foundation Newsletter, Volume 13, Number 1, published in January/February 2004, focuses on the complex issues surrounding false memories and trauma. The issue highlights the FMS Foundation's efforts to distribute literature and raise awareness among criminal justice and family service workers.

A Complexity of Experiences

This section features two main personal accounts.

Letter from a Mother (Excerpt)

A letter from the daughter of a cousin describes her experience of psychotherapy which led her to understand that her father had sexually molested her and her sister when they were babies. The alleged abuse resulted in her sister developing a psychosis lasting over 30 years, and the writer losing sight in one eye at 10 months old. The writer notes that she does not actually remember the incidents, but believes what the psychotherapist told her, and now blames her father for her physical handicap and her sister's psychosis. She questions if readers have encountered similar cases, suggesting this one is not unique.

Claudia Dabbs's Account

Claudia Dabbs shares her personal experience, beginning with her awareness of her father's damaging behavior and her mother's chronic depression and family history of schizophrenia. She recounts how, after her father's suicide, her sister was released from a psychiatric hospital with increased depression and confusion, and later died by suicide. Dabbs criticizes the focus on repressed memories for her sister, arguing that depression treatment would have been more appropriate given their family history.

Dabbs then describes her own experience seeking treatment for psychiatric symptoms that developed into a neurobiological disorder. She was referred to a therapist trained by a psychiatrist who diagnosed many clients with Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). Instead of receiving treatment for her diagnosed illness, she was treated as a victim of repressed childhood abuse. This led to her believing she had MPD and multiple alters, resulting in decompensation and over 25 hospitalizations in a 10-year period. She eventually terminated this therapy and began treatment with a psychologist who addressed her actual diagnosis with cognitive therapy and interventions for anxiety and panic attacks.

Dabbs contacted the FMS Foundation before terminating her previous therapy and found the people she spoke with to be helpful and professional. She attended a local conference and decided to write about her experience to inform readers about the variety and complexity of experiences that can lead to false memories. She emphasizes that her story does not fit stereotypes of confabulation or attention-seeking, and that she attempted to help her family heal from the pain caused by her father's suicide and sister's death.

Editor's Comment

The editor comments on Dabbs's account, expressing regret that statements about "personalities prone to confabulate" and "attention seekers" were interpreted to mean the accuser acted consciously or intentionally. The editor notes that young women like the writer have experienced anguish and pain, and their families have suffered due to being misled by misguided therapists.

Book and Media Reviews/Recommendations

The newsletter includes several recommendations:

• "Victims of Memory: Sex Abuse Accusations and Shattered Lives" by Mark Pendergrast: Praised as an impressive display of scholarship offering a comprehensive treatment of the recovered-memories controversy, with a laudable ability to present all sides of the argument and a sympathetic portrayal of recovery therapists.
• "The Rutherford Family Speaks to FMS Families": A video covering the complete story of accusation, retraction, and reconciliation within the Rutherford family, with a focus on Beth Rutherford's comments on retracting.
• "Psychology Astray: Fallacies in Studies of 'Repressed Memory' and Childhood Trauma" by Harrison G. Pope, Jr., M.D.: Described as an indispensable guide for understanding research claims about recovered memories.
• "Remembering Trauma" by Richard McNally: Recommended as the most comprehensive review of research about trauma and memory.
• "Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology" edited by S. O. Lilienfeld, S.J. Lynn, and J.M. Lohr: Highly recommended.
• "Ask an Expert," This American Life (June 14, 2002): Features the Rutherfords and a retracting therapist, discussing people who received horrible advice from experts.

Web Sites of Interest

A list of websites related to false memory, memory exhibits, and related organizations is provided, including the Lampinen Lab False Memory Reading Group, The Exploratorium Memory Exhibit, and StopBadTherapy.com.

Legal Web Sites of Interest

A list of legal websites is provided, including caseassist.com and findlaw.com.

Bulletin Board

The newsletter includes a comprehensive "Bulletin Board" with contacts and meeting information for FMS Foundation chapters across the United States and internationally, including Canada, Australia, Belgium, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

FMS Foundation Information

Contact information for the FMS Foundation is provided, including its address in Philadelphia, phone and fax numbers, and website. It also details how to subscribe to electronic versions of the newsletter and encourages contributions to support the Foundation's work.

Scientific and Professional Advisory Board

A list of the FMSF Scientific and Professional Advisory Board members as of January 1, 2004, is included, featuring numerous academics and professionals in psychology and related fields.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the critical examination of the "repressed memory" phenomenon and its therapeutic implications. The newsletter appears to advocate for a cautious approach, emphasizing the potential for false memories to be created through suggestive therapeutic techniques. The personal accounts highlight the devastating consequences of what the authors and the FMS Foundation perceive as misguided therapeutic practices. The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards the uncritical acceptance of recovered memories of trauma, particularly sexual abuse, and a call for more rigorous scientific and clinical scrutiny of these claims. The newsletter positions itself as a resource for those seeking to understand the complexities and potential pitfalls associated with memory retrieval therapy.