False Memory Syndrome Foundation - Vol 17 No 01 - 2008 winter

Magazine Overview

The False Memory Syndrome Foundation Newsletter, Winter 2008, Vol. 17 No. 1, is dedicated to addressing the resurgence of beliefs in multiple personality disorder (MPD) and satanic ritual abuse (SRA). The editorial expresses concern that these 'tired old beliefs' are resurfacing, potentially re-traumatizing individuals and families, similar to the phenomena of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Key Articles and Discussions

Review of "Switching Time: A Doctor's Harrowing Story of Treating A Woman with 17 Personalities"

This section critically reviews Dr. Richard Baer's book, which details his 18-year therapy with a patient named 'Karen.' The review questions the validity of Karen's 'recovered memories' of horrific abuse and her diagnosis of MPD. The author, Pamela Freyd, suggests that Baer's expectations and therapeutic methods, particularly hypnosis, may have inadvertently created or reinforced these beliefs. The review highlights inconsistencies and the lack of external corroboration for Karen's stories, pointing out that many elements are stereotypical of 'survivor stories' prevalent in the 1990s. The article also notes Baer's potential absorption of ideas from figures like Dr. Bennett Braun, who was instrumental in the spread of MPD beliefs.

The Difficulty of Debunking Myths

The newsletter cites research by Norbert Schwarz et al. from the University of Michigan, which indicates that attempts to debunk myths can sometimes reinforce them. The strategy of confronting myths with facts can inadvertently reiterate the false claims, and over time, people may only remember the vague familiarity of the false claim, attributing it to a credible source. This makes it challenging to correct deeply held, erroneous beliefs.

Legal Cases

Nebraska Jury Awards Daughter $1.75 Million in Repressed Memory Case: This case involved a lawsuit by Jane Doe against her father and two churches for alleged childhood sexual abuse. Despite the statute of limitations defense, a jury awarded Doe $1.75 million, with the court accepting expert testimony on repressed memory and dissociative amnesia.

Alabama Judge Orders Father to Pay $8M to Daughter: In a separate case, Fred Blackmon was ordered to pay his daughter $8 million for alleged abuse, noted as not being a repressed memory case.

Taus v. Loftus Settlement: The case brought by Nichole Taus against Elizabeth Loftus and others for publishing an article about 'Jane Doe' resulted in a settlement, with Taus ordered to pay the defendants' legal expenses.

Satanic Ritual Abuse Conviction Falling Apart? West Memphis Three

This section discusses the ongoing re-examination of the West Memphis Three case, where three teenagers were convicted in 1994 for the murder of three boys, with the prosecution heavily relying on satanic ritual abuse (SRA) accusations. New evidence, including the lack of DNA and physical evidence, and questions about a coerced confession, suggests the original convictions may have been a 'witch hunt.' The article notes that the climate surrounding SRA claims has become more skeptical.

Satanic Ritual Murder and Satanic Ritual Sexual Abuse Again in the News

Ohio Case Reinstates Lawsuit: The Sixth District Court of Appeals in Ohio reinstated a lawsuit against Gerald Robinson, a priest accused of participating in torture during satanic rituals. The court ruled that repressed memories should not be time-barred.

Ponchatoula, Louisiana Conviction: Austin 'Trey' Bernard was convicted of rape in a case involving accusations of satanic ritual abuse within the Hosanna Church. The article notes that some accusers later recanted, and no physical evidence of ritual abuse was found.

Expert Commentary on SRA

The newsletter features Dawn Perlmutter, Ph.D., an expert on religious terrorism and ritualistic crimes, who trains police departments. Perlmutter believes ritualistic crimes are increasing and faces challenges due to extreme denial and the difficulty of prosecuting offenders. She notes that 'anti-cult experts' often face 'cult apologists' who attribute claims to false memories suggested by psychologists.

College Counseling Center Web Sites

A brief mention is made of the 'Ask Alice' section on the Columbia University Counseling web site, which recommends books on childhood molestation, with the FMSF noting that such resources may underestimate the power of suggestion.

"Innocuous?"

This short piece critiques the assumption that psychotherapy is always innocuous, citing how 'recovered memory' therapy created false memories, leading to family destruction. It questions the limited attention given to adverse effects in psychotherapy literature.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout the newsletter is the skepticism towards recovered memories and satanic ritual abuse claims, emphasizing the potential for iatrogenic effects (therapist-induced) and the unreliability of memory, especially when influenced by hypnosis or suggestive questioning. The FMSF advocates for a critical approach to such claims, urging vigilance against the resurgence of what they consider unfounded beliefs. The editorial stance is clearly against the uncritical acceptance of recovered memories and SRA, promoting scientific research and factual evidence as the basis for understanding these complex issues. The newsletter also highlights the legal and societal implications of these beliefs, particularly when they lead to accusations and convictions.

Title: FMS Foundation Newsletter
Issue: Winter 2008, Vol. 17 No. 1
Publisher: FMS Foundation
Date: Winter 2008

This issue of the FMS Foundation Newsletter delves into the complex and often devastating impact of false accusations of child abuse, particularly within the Canadian legal and psychological context. It features opinion pieces, personal narratives, and updates on the Foundation's activities, aiming to shed light on the phenomenon of False Memory Syndrome (FMS) and its consequences.

Opinion: Adriaan Mak

Adriaan Mak, the Canadian contact for people falsely accused of child sexual abuse, argues that recent public inquiries should prompt a change in how Canadian courts handle dubious accusations of child abuse. He notes that while Canadian lower courts became aware of the rampant increase in wrongful accusations in the early nineties, the Supreme Court seemed less responsive. However, recent events involving false accusations should lead to a shift in the Supreme Court's attitude.

Mak highlights two key areas of concern:

1. The work of former Ontario coroner Dr. Charles Smith: Smith's testimony in cases involving child deaths and alleged abuse has been scrutinized. In one instance 16 years prior, he incorrectly determined the cause of death for a 16-month-old girl, attributing it to shaken baby syndrome when it was an accidental head injury. Smith's testimony was involved in twelve criminal convictions, and the government is reviewing 40 other suspicious child deaths where he was involved.
2. The Cornwall, Ontario, inquiry: This ongoing public inquiry, ordered by Ontario's Attorney General, began in February 2006 and is investigating how authorities handled child sex abuse allegations in the early nineties. The inquiry has cost the government $12 million. Key witnesses include former Cornwall police officer Perry Dunlop, who has been found in contempt of court for refusing to testify, and Ron Leroux, who has recanted his previous affidavits, admitting he fabricated allegations of a pedophile "clan" involved in absurd ritual sexual abuses.

Canada's Supreme Court and the case of B.D. and family

Mak criticizes a recent Canadian Supreme Court decision for demonstrating a misunderstanding or ignorance of suggestive questioning and misguided therapy offered to suspected victims of childhood sexual abuse in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The decision, made on July 27, 2007, in the matter of Syl Apps Secure Treatment Centre and B.D. and family, ruled that Children's Aid societies, treatment centers, or social workers owe no duty of care to the families of the children they apprehend. Mak argues that this ruling gives social workers "carte blanche" in dealing with suspected child abuse cases, potentially causing havoc to Canadian families.

The case involved a girl, R.D., whose family physician, parish priest, and Sunday school teachers testified that she was well-cared for, imaginative, and studious. The girl wrote a fictional story for a class assignment, which her teacher found concerning due to its content, leading to contact with social workers. This initiated a chain of events that, according to the article, could have been avoided if not for mistaken notions about memories of child sexual abuse. The girl was placed in a foster home, leading to suicide attempts. Despite her longing to be reunited with her family and police investigations corroborating that her story was fictional, she was not sent home. By age 18, she refused contact with her parents, who believe her mental illness would have been less severe if she had not been separated from them. The D family pursued legal action at great expense but were ultimately unsuccessful in the Supreme Court.

From Our Readers

The newsletter includes several personal accounts from readers:

• A mom ("We Wish!"): Expresses a desire for resolution regarding a past issue with her daughter, stating they get along well but avoid the "subject" for fear of reopening old wounds.
• A thankful mom: Thanks the Foundation for its help, noting her daughter is doing well but remains concerned about monitoring mental health professionals to prevent another "FMS fiasco."
• A grateful mom ("After 20 Years"): Shares a story of reconciliation with her daughter after 20 years of estrangement, highlighting the emotional journey and the support received from the FMSF community.
• A mom and grandmom ("After 15 Years"): Expresses gratitude for the Foundation's support over 15 years, recounting how she received a letter in 1991 that helped her realize she wasn't alone in her experiences.
• A mom and grandmom ("Loss and Gain"): Shares the joy of her son returning to her life after years of no contact, coinciding with her husband's passing. She also recounts an incident where she used an FMSF letter to NPR to counter misinformation about Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) presented in a movie.
• The Burgus Family ("Ten Years Later"): Mike and Patty Burgus reflect on their lawsuit settlement ten years prior with Bennett Braun, M.D., Elva Poznanski, M.D., and Rush Presbyterian Hospital. They are now living in Madison County, Iowa, and express hope that their settlement made a difference.
• "I Survived FMS": A survivor recounts her experience with FMS, beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s when she sought therapy for depression. She describes how her therapist diagnosed her with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to alleged childhood sexual abuse, leading to the creation of numerous alter personalities and "memories" of satanic ritual abuse. She details how the "memories" were contagious within survivor groups, likening it to group hysteria and a cult. Her recovery began after reading a newspaper series on False Memory Syndrome, which helped her to "deprogram" and work with a psychiatrist who did not subscribe to the DID diagnosis. She expresses profound gratitude for the FMS Foundation's support.
• Vince Ventura: A psychology student and FMS survivor, Ventura shares his journey of recovery and his desire to help others afflicted by FMS. He advocates for FMS to be recognized as an actual diagnosis in the DSM4. He offers himself as a listener and source of experience, strength, and hope for parents and individuals dealing with FMS.

Barry Lane Beyerstein (1947-2007)

The newsletter notes the passing of Barry Lane Beyerstein, a professor of psychology at Simon Fraser University. Beyerstein was known for his interest in exposing pseudoscientific therapies and was a valuable contact for Canadian parents who had been falsely accused of child sexual abuse due to memory manipulation. His articles, including "Why Do Bogus Therapies Seem to Work?" and his co-authored work "Hidden Memories: Fact or Fantasy?", are cited.

Coming in March

A new television series titled "The United States of Tara," about a woman with dissociative identity disorder, is scheduled to debut in March. The series is described as a comedy with a twist, comparing it to "Weeds meets Sybil" and "Sybil with a laugh track."

FMSF Bulletin Board

The newsletter includes contact information for FMS Foundation representatives and meetings across the United States, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Israel, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It also provides details for submitting meeting notices for the Spring 2008 issue.

FMSF Information and Support

The final pages provide copyright information, contact details for the FMS Foundation, and information on how to subscribe to electronic versions of the newsletter. It also includes a section for financial contributions and lists the FMSF Scientific and Professional Advisory Board members as of January 1, 2008. Recommended books on trauma and memory are also listed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the devastating impact of false memory syndrome and false accusations of child abuse, the flaws within the legal and mental health systems that can perpetuate these issues, and the importance of support networks and personal resilience. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of supporting individuals and families affected by FMS, advocating for greater awareness and recognition of the syndrome, and critiquing practices that may lead to or exacerbate false memories. The newsletter serves as a platform for survivors, families, and professionals to share their experiences and concerns.