False Memory Syndrome Foundation - Vol 20 No 04 - 2011 fall

Magazine Overview

This is the final print issue of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation Newsletter, Vol. 20 No. 4, dated Fall 2011. The newsletter reflects on the changes and continuities in the discourse surrounding recovered memories and multiple personality disorder (MPD) over the past twenty years. It notes the significant increase in access to information, largely due to the internet, while observing that the emotional impact on families caught in these issues remains profound.

Key Articles and Research

The 'Sybil' Case Exposed

The issue prominently features a review of Debbie Nathan's book, "Sybil Exposed: The Extraordinary Story Behind the Famous Multiple Personality Case." The review highlights that Nathan's investigative work reveals Sybil to be a 'corporation' created by author Flora Rheta Schreiber, psychiatrist Cornelia Wilbur, and patient Shirley Mason. The book is described as an expose of medical and journalistic malpractice, debunking the romanticized notions presented in the original book and subsequent movie about Sybil, which had defined the multiple personality disorder (MPD) model for thousands of diagnoses.

Research on Memory and Dissociation

Two research reports are highlighted:

• "What People Believe About How Memory Works": This report documents widespread misconceptions about memory, with profound implications for evaluating legal testimony.
• Dutra and colleagues' study: This longitudinal study examined the relationship between childhood trauma and dissociation. It found that a lack of parental responsiveness in infancy significantly predicted dissociation in young adults, and childhood verbal abuse was the only type of trauma that added to this prediction. The study found no evidence that childhood sexual abuse directly causes dissociation, challenging the assumptions behind "recovered repressed memories."

The Persistence of Bad Ideas

Robert Stern, MD, in "I Hope You're Seated," notes the continued existence of the Los Angeles Women's Task Force on Ritual Abuse, which in 1992 claimed Satanists were pumping bug spray into their offices. He reflects on how "bad ideas die off when the people who believe the bad ideas die off," highlighting the enduring nature of discredited beliefs.

Media Promotion of MPD and DID

Several articles address the media's role in promoting MPD and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID):

• Kim Noble: The newsletter discusses Kim Noble, a British artist who claimed to have 20 personalities in 2010 and 100 by 2011. The article criticizes the Guardian newspaper for its uncritical reporting and for not questioning the rapid increase in claimed personalities or the controversial nature of DID and Valerie Sinason's reputation for belief in satanic ritual abuse.
• Lisa Michels: The case of Lisa Michels is presented, who recovered memories of abuse during a televised therapy session on The Oprah Winfrey Show. The article notes that her expertise in memory is being promoted for her forthcoming book, and questions whether the research of the past two decades has been lost on those promoting such narratives.

Legal and Scientific Challenges to MPD/DID

Several sections detail legal cases and expert opinions challenging the validity and application of MPD/DID in court:

• Colin Ross Testimony Excluded: In the "Twilight Rapist Case" in Texas, the testimony of Dr. Colin Ross, who supported the defendant's claim of multiple personality disorder, was excluded by the judge. Expert testimony from R. Christopher Barden, Ph.D., J.D., argued that MPD/DID is controversial, not generally accepted, and potentially junk science.
• Betrayal Trauma Theory: The newsletter addresses the use of Betrayal Trauma Theory in court, noting that while it has passed the Daubert test, its acceptance and applicability to criminal responsibility remain debated.
• Billy Banks Case: The newsletter clarifies its reporting on Billy Banks, a convicted child molester, stating that its article mentioned the defense's argument about "recovered memories" being implanted and the defense's limited time, not that it "embraced" the case.
• Wayne Sergent Case: The newsletter states that its mention of Wayne Sergent was brief and that the case turned out to have nothing to do with FMS.
• Calvin Huss Case: The newsletter denies mentioning the Calvin Huss case and reiterates its stance that memories are not necessarily repressed and that external corroboration is needed to determine truth.
• Colin Ross Testimony in Texas: The exclusion of Dr. Colin Ross's testimony in the Texas Twilight Rapist case is detailed, with legal experts and the judge deeming MPD/DID controversial and not generally accepted in the scientific community.

Ongoing Spread of MPD/DID Beliefs

The newsletter notes the continued spread of MPD/DID beliefs through conferences, particularly religious counseling meetings. A DID Symposium in Colorado Springs was canceled and replaced by a workshop.

Audit of Psychiatric Funding

An audit in London, Ontario, revealed that Dr. Sandra Fisman, chair of the Psychiatry Department, was accused of concealing funding and misallocating $640,000 of psychiatric funding designated for acute mental illness treatment.

Ritual Abuse Case Upended: West Memphis Three Free

The release of the "West Memphis Three" is discussed. Convicted of murder in the 1990s, their release in 2011 followed new forensic evidence. The article highlights the initial portrayal of the case as involving Satanism and ritual abuse, and the defense's claim that it was a "witch hunt."

Reader Challenges and Responses

Ross Cheit, Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, posted five challenges to the FMSF Newsletter Editor on his Recovered Memory Project website. The newsletter responds to these challenges, addressing specific cases and defending its reporting.

Misunderstandings About Memory

The "Misunderstandings About Memory" section summarizes findings from a survey by Simons and Chabris, highlighting common public misconceptions about amnesia, eyewitness testimony, video memory, permanent memory, hypnosis, and unexpected events. It emphasizes the need for expert testimony to educate jurors about memory.

Multiple Personality Testimony Excluded

In the "Twilight Rapist Case," Dr. Colin Ross's testimony supporting the defendant's claim of multiple personality disorder was excluded by the judge. Expert testimony from R. Christopher Barden argued that MPD/DID is controversial and not generally accepted.

From Our Readers

This section includes an "Update from the Netherlands" discussing a case where Dutch detectives allegedly used guided imagery to elicit a false confession of child abuse, and a "Day of Remembering" poem.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this final issue is the ongoing debate and controversy surrounding recovered memories, multiple personality disorder (MPD), and dissociative identity disorder (DID). The FMSF Newsletter consistently advocates for a skeptical approach, emphasizing the lack of scientific evidence for repressed memories, the potential for suggestibility and therapist influence, and the need for external corroboration. The editorial stance is critical of media portrayals and therapeutic practices that promote these concepts without rigorous scientific backing. The newsletter highlights research that challenges the validity of recovered memories and MPD/DID diagnoses, and points to the potential for harm to individuals and families. The final issue marks a transition to electronic communication, signaling the end of an era for the print publication but not for the foundation's mission.

Title: FMS Foundation Newsletter
Issue: Vol. 20 No. 4
Date: Fall 2011
Publisher: FMS Foundation
Country: USA
Language: English
ISSN: 1069-0484

This issue of the FMS Foundation Newsletter delves into profound personal experiences and provides updates on the organization's activities and resources. The cover story, "Unimaginable Loss," is a deeply personal account of a mother who lost all eight members of her family within months, attributing the tragedy to the manipulation of memory by therapists. The newsletter also features a section on Diane Lackey Brooks, who has made a video excerpt from her therapy session available, and details on the availability of legal documents related to her case. Another significant piece highlights the popular DVD by the Rutherford family, which chronicles their journey of accusation, retraction, and reconciliation.

Unimaginable Loss

The lead article, "Unimaginable Loss," is a first-person narrative by a mother who recounts the devastating loss of her entire family within a matter of months. She describes the initial phone call on February 19th, 2007, as the beginning of the end of a loving family relationship. The narrator expresses that the saying 'Time heals all things' is not necessarily true, drawing a parallel to the pain of those who lost loved ones during 9/11. She questions the justice and accountability for what she describes as the 'unscientific practices and techniques of some therapists playing with the malleability of memory.' The author reflects on past losses, including her mother to cancer and father to Alzheimer's, but states that the 'terror of recreated memories has torn our family apart.' She concludes that 'something more insidious—the unscientific practices and techniques of some therapists playing with the malleability of memory' led to the loss, not disease or violence.

Too Poor to Confront Remorse

This section shares an email sent by a mother to her daughter on 9/11, prompted by a church sermon on forgiveness. The daughter is described as a 'returner, not a recanter,' and the mother expresses her struggle to fully accept her daughter's actions without remorse, but has decided to forgive her, understanding that she is 'too poor' psychologically to confront what she has done.

Kick the Elephant Out

This personal account details a family's devastation in 1994 when their second daughter informed them they were no longer allowed communication. Shortly after, church leaders removed the daughter's husband from his pastorate, and the couple moved away. The narrator's husband passed away in 1999. In 2010, after 16 years, the daughter reached out, leading to a meeting and reconciliation. The narrator describes the reunion with her daughter and grandchildren, initiating the reconciliation with the phrase, 'Let's just kick the elephant out of the living room and get on with our lives.' The author expresses gratitude for the FMSF's support.

Diane Lackey Brooks Makes Video Available

This section announces that an excerpt from a therapy session related to Diane Lackey's lawsuit, previously featured in the 2011 FMSF Summer Newsletter, is now available as a four-minute video. The article also directs readers to the FMSF Website for legal documents, specifically the complaints in the cases of Lackey v. Baker and Lackey v. DePaoli.

The Rutherford Family Speaks to FMS Families

This article promotes a DVD created by the Rutherford family, described as the most popular DVD from FMSF families. It covers their complete story from accusation to retraction and reconciliation, with family members sharing their coping strategies. Beth Rutherford's comments on her family's role in her retraction are highlighted as particularly interesting. The DVD is available for purchase through a mail order request to FMSF-DVD.

Web Sites of Interest

Page 2 features an extensive list of websites related to false memory, recovered memory therapy, skepticism, and related topics. These include sites by Elizabeth Loftus, the Ross Institute, and various international organizations.

Contacts & Meetings - United States and International

Page 2 also provides a comprehensive directory of FMSF contacts and meeting information for various states in the U.S. and several international locations, including Canada, Australia, Belgium, France, Israel, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Copyright and Contact Information

Page 3 contains the copyright notice for the FMS Foundation, its address, phone number, fax number, and email address. It also lists the ISSN for the newsletter and the name of the Executive Director, Pamela Freyd, Ph.D. The page includes the FMSF Scientific and Professional Advisory Board list, with members and their affiliations, and a separate list of deceased advisors.

Contribution Information

This section encourages readers to contribute to the FMS Foundation, providing instructions for donations via Visa, Discover, Mastercard, or Check/Money Order. It also includes a form for printing personal information for contribution processing.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the devastating impact of false memories, the complexities of recovered memory therapy, and the importance of reconciliation and retraction. The FMS Foundation's stance is evident in its support for individuals affected by these issues, providing resources, contact information, and a platform for sharing personal stories and advocating for awareness. The newsletter consistently promotes critical examination of memory claims and offers support to those who have experienced memory retraction or reconciliation. The organization emphasizes its role as a resource for information and support regarding false memory syndrome.