FMSF 1996 False Memory Syndrom

Fred H. Fraokel, M.B.Cb.B., D.P.M. This question is deceptively simple. }lowever, as it has become the focus of a debate, it needs to be addressed: Psychotherapy entails reflecting ~pectfully, empathically, and non-judgmentally, on the clinical material reported by clients, in an attempt to understa

Imagine what you'd think if there had been a TV documentary abo~t a surge~n who amputated the wrong leg and the International Soctety of Surgeons responded with a complaint about slanted news coverage because most surgeons, after all, don't amputate wrong legs. You can easily imagine what you'd thin

Professionals in two states have introduced legislation designed to protect the public. In Maryland, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene plans to introduce legislation during the 1996 session of the General Assembly that

STATUS OF FMSF AS ACE PROVIDER In November, an effort to pressure the American Psy~ chological Association to rescind the status of FMSF as a provider of continuing education credits for psychologists

In November, an effort to pressure the American Psy~ chological Association to rescind the status of FMSF as a provider of continuing education credits for psychologists was mounted by some of the Women in Psychology, Divi~

1993; March 8, 1994; and July 6, 1994.) We are eager to work with professionals to see that programs of the highest FMS FOUNDATION AND JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS JOINTLY SPONSOR

INSTITUTIONS JOINTLY SPONSOR Basic Standards of Care in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Practices with Memory and The Process of Family Reconciliation

Basic Standards of Care in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Practices with Memory and The Process of Family Reconciliation Conference Description

This continuing medical education conference will focus on: defining the scope of the problems created in psychotherapy by memory work, the clinical practice and ethical issues involving the rational management of patients with recovered memories of doubtful validity and

focus on: defining the scope of the problems created in psychotherapy by memory work, the clinical practice and ethical issues involving the rational management of patients with recovered memories of doubtful validity and the process of family reconciliation after the discernment of

Following this program, the participant should be able to -~ • understand the potential scope of the problems created by • analyze the experimental and clinical research literature on

The three patients who are equally dangerous therapies will not emerge? Where are the safeshown in depth seem to have On Jan. 24, 1996, the jury in the second of little social life but very intense

of negligent psychotherapy to recover so-called tact as well as talking: "repressed memories." Lawyer R. Christopher Gretchen's therapist helped

A concrete example of change is that the State of Washington Department of Health Counselors has filed a second Statement of Charges that relate to recovered mem~ ory therapy. The professional in this second complaint is a

The following charges are from a lawsuit brought by a fanner patient and pertain to the issue of informed consent. The defendants failed to obtain informed consent. They had failed to disclose that:

• Lindsay, D.S., & Read, J.D. (1995). "Memory work" and recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse: Scientific evidence and public, professional, and personal issues. Psy· chology, Public Policy, and Law, 1, 846-908. (Publication

"Reporters, the Cardinal [Bernardin] said, have a~ked him which was worse, the cancer or the accusatiOn. 'Without any hesitation, I said the false accusation. ""Tat was an attack on my character, my reputatiOn.

"Our legal system is based on .the assu~ption. that t~e accused is innocent until proven guilty. In cnmes hke chtld abuse however, even a verdict of not guilty does not erase the h~ done to the accused, let alone the financial harm. "Such overzealousness does nothing to help fight child

"The thing I've been most ap~al~ed ~y is the sense ?f so many psychotherapists ... that thetr JOb ts to confirm thetr patients' delusions rather than help them find out what really has happened. It took a h;mg tiro~ to <:onvince ll_lyself that's what's happening, but tt certamly ts happemng. I

A program is planned in Adelaide, South Austra1ia, to educate doctors about "Dissociative Identity Disorder" or D.l.D. Mental Health consumers with a D.I.D diagnosis from a therapist are being advised how to convince their

REPRESSED-MEMORY THERAPY TARGET OF BILL According to the Denver Post (December 19, 1995) two state legislators have drafted a bill that has two main

According to the Denver Post (December 19, 1995) two state legislators have drafted a bill that has two main provisions. One requires mental-health workers to document that they advised their patients of the nature and possible consequences of repressed memory therapy. The other says an a1leged perp

We extend a very special 'Thank you" to aJl of the people who help prepare the FMSF Newsletter. Freyd, Research: Michele Gregg, Anita Lipton,

ing that the Star was fair because they had (memory for events) and implicit memory

individuals and families that I have worked so hard to STATE BOARD SUSPENDS GENESIS PSYCHOLOGIST How does one respond to smear? James Randi, another Daily Local News, Chester County, February 8, 1996

How does one respond to smear? James Randi, another Daily Local News, Chester County, February 8, 1996 advisory board member who was smeared in the columns has written that he has initiated a legal remedy. Others who

AGAINST PSYCHOLOGISTS Houston Chronicle, Jan. 14, 1996 Mark Smith

Houston Chronicle, Jan. 14, 1996 Mark Smith

marketing of rehab centers like Sierra Tucson. Between DOCfORS IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION 1988 and 1993, the inpatient stay in a rehab center dropped Boston Herald June 4, 1995, Michael Lasalandra

1988 and 1993, the inpatient stay in a rehab center dropped Boston Herald June 4, 1995, Michael Lasalandra Psychiatrists represent 10% of the doctors in Massachusetts but they received nearly one-third of the discipRENO WON'T REVIEW WASHINGTON CHILD SEX CASES The Washington Post, Feb. 3, 1996, Willi

According to the Division of Registration, the percentages Attorney General Janet Reno has stated that the Justice would be even higher if psychologists and social workers Department has been unable to establish that police and were counted. ''There are no figures available for people

to be considering whether to launch a state investigation Dallas Morning News, January 28, 1996, Victoria Loe into the prosecutions. Texas child protection officials will not investigate a foster mother accused of physically forcing children to

invent tales of satanic cult. As a result of these tales, a According to a letter (1/4/96) written by the Colorado police officer and seven other people in the town of Gilmer Association of Psychotherapists president David Pasikov to were falsely accused of murder. The decision by the child

police officer and seven other people in the town of Gilmer Association of Psychotherapists president David Pasikov to were falsely accused of murder. The decision by the child Colorado legislators, there are approximately 6,000 non\iprotection officials ignores promptings of a veteran chiJd censed

From time to time, various scientific articles appear

who have begun the process of reconciliation, positions. The APA report documents that the clinicians on the committee do not agree with or without retraction, tell us that the resumption of communication is important. What can help

ful. We hope that the following article about mediation by Susan Robbins will answer many of the questions families they are important reflections on the current state of the repressed memory debate. The clinicians on the APA group have asked the Foundation. We think it may also be helpful

memories might not be true. training and has experience in For many, it is especially difficult to face the pain that mediating with families. Family

ASSOCIATION WORKING GROUP ON THE INVESTIGATION OF MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD ABUSE NOW AVAU..ABLE

OF MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD ABUSE NOW AVAU..ABLE The Final Report of the APA Working Group on the

The Final Report of the APA Working Group on the Investigation of Memories of Childhood Abuse is now

available through the American Psychological Association. advanced training is sometimes helpful. it is more important (Contact: Paul Donnelly at APA (202-336-6055), email: that the mediator be able to remain truly neutral. It is critical pzd.apa@emaU.apa.org, 750 1st NE, Washington, DC 20002.)

What an opportunity was lost: if this most-used RMT manCeci, Loftus) ual is, in fact, just "pop psychology" why shouldn't the • RESPONSE TO "ADULT RECOLLECTIONS OF CHILDHOOD ABUSE: COGNITIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL PERAPA go on record? SPECfiVES" (Alpert, Brown, Courtois) But not all RMT manuals are in th

member Laura Brown. It includes a The three clinical members of the Working Group insist through- ,------Wh--at_'_s_in_a_w_o_r_d--1-:------, section on hypnosis in which it is reported with apparent approval out the Final Repon that "recovNot fierce or robust but massive.

is the 'hunt for the missing in Women by E. Sue Blume. memory.' We suggest that this Abuse, 1996 _ _- - : - - - This

FMs Foundatioo Newsletter

fusion and finding a direction for healing." (For the cornabuse. After reading an article the psychologist gave Mary's boyfriend, Mary reported she knew

ritual abuse (the average age at which these memories were The False Memory Syndrome Foundation has asked said to have begun was 7 months.) The number of murders people to think about the lack of scientific evidence supreported by this group of patients was 150. Twenty-two

after Dr. Loftus's talk, one recovered memory advocate stood up to say that the program was not balanced and that the program should have listed speakers' affiliation with the FMSF. He then stomped out of the room before anyone

DISCOURAGES CONFRONTATION The Canadian Psychiatric Association issued a position statement on "Adult recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse," on March 25, 1996. It affirms the importance of external corroboration in knowing the truth of memory. In

The Canadian Psychiatric Association issued a position statement on "Adult recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse," on March 25, 1996. It affirms the importance of external corroboration in knowing the truth of memory. In addition, it states: "Confrontation with alleged perpetrators solely for

From time to time, various scientific articles appear which discuss issues of childhood sexual abuse, memory, and responses to trauma. Since such studies are often widely cited in the scientific and popular press, it is critical to recognize their methodological limits. It is particularly

lnfonned Consent Bill Passed in Indiana Senate Bill No 210 sponsored by Senator Patricia Miller was passed in the Second Regular Session I 09th

Involving the Scientific Status of Repressed Memories," April I. 1996, p.

lt 61 Collection F "Newspaper Articles from 1995~ $10.50 FM$ Foundation. 1995. 12 newspaper alfic/es on various topics including FMS, retractor lawsuits against therapists, Wenatchee accusations, Satanic accusations and legal cases. 46 pp

Abrams, Stan "False memory syndrome vs. total repression.· Journal of Psychiatry & Law. Summer 1995. A polygraph was used to test alleged child abusers accused on the basis of recovered memories vs those whose purported victims experienced no repression. The former group was found to be deceptive in

Practices, and Experiences"; Stave Paul Moen - "Consequences of the Therapist's Claim "I'm Not a Detective'." To order this Issue, at $14.00 per copy, contact: Federal legal Publications, Inc., 157 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007;

Audio tapes from the highly successful FMSF 11 ohns Hopkins conference held in San Diego on March 30, 1996 can be purchased from Aaron Video. BASIC STANDARDS OF CARE IN

PRACTICES WITH MEMORY AND THE PROCESS OF FAMILY RECONCILIATION. The tapes are approximately 90 to 120 minutes long and cost$ 8.00 (US) per tape [Ohio residents add 7%

We reflect on the comment The purpose of the meeting was to have an open discusfrom the retracting therapist sion of the problems that we CIRCLE MARCH 22 AND 23, 1997

was to have an open discusfrom the retracting therapist sion of the problems that we CIRCLE MARCH 22 AND 23, 1997 who wrote in "First do no all share and to look for soluharm" (Skeptic. Fall 1995}

who wrote in "First do no all share and to look for soluharm" (Skeptic. Fall 1995} tions to them. The American Initial planning is underway for a national False that when she practiced

March 22 and Sunday, March 23, 1997. We have she never thought about how still considering its policy on attending future meetings at reserved space at the Renaissance Hotel (formerly

might feel. Families must which FMSF representatives continue to make every effort located at the harbor in Baltimore. MD. This third conWe left the meeting at the

of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation in Chicago on the evening of October 5, 1996. These periodic get-togethers give members from across the country the opportunity to be briefed on the changing scientific. organizational and family developments. "Friends" are Foundation members who donate a mini

The Honorable Orin Hatch, R. Utah Chairman, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Rm #135 Russell Senate Office Building Congressman Henry Hyde, Chair

From time to time, various scientific articles appear which discuss issues of childhood sexual abuse, memory, and responses to trauma. Since such studies are often

be no evidence that children could learn to forget the crises. Daniel L. Schacter, Ph.D., Basic Books, 1996 It might be argued that crises of physical pain differ from the trauma of repeated physical or sexual abuse. HowThe author of this scholarly book is a professor of psychology at Harvard who ha

Dissociation: "Dissociation, Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 41 (4) rather than repression, might be

the vmce. of moderation in st~dards of care for memory JANE DOE, ET Al. v. A. JOSEPH MASKELL, ET Al. work-_wtth no reference to the1r past position. No. 102, September Term, 1995 July 29, 1996, Filed. Th1s summe~ several new case studies appeared in

work-_wtth no reference to the1r past position. No. 102, September Term, 1995 July 29, 1996, Filed. Th1s summe~ several new case studies appeared in The summer of I 996 finds the number of -----------~whtch external corroboration was offered to r~pressed memory cases exploding at the r

by the great range of conand two couples in Kern cems. For some families, time County, California were released after 14 years.

NOT TO PROSECUTE GEORGE FRANKLIN "If you think a witch~hunt like the one in Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible" could not occur in this enlightened age, consider the case of George Franklin ..." San Francisco Chronicle, July 9, 1996

"If you think a witch~hunt like the one in Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible" could not occur in this enlightened age, consider the case of George Franklin ..." San Francisco Chronicle, July 9, 1996

families tom apart by false recovered memories, which also are destructive to the people with the recovered memories."

FMs Foundation Newsletter

necessary to prudently encourage disclosure to others, especially family members, given the predictable emotional upheaval that would follow from such disclosure."

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry Vol41, No 5 305-306 Adult Recovered Memories of Childhood Sexual Abuse Stella Blackshaw, MD, FRCPC, Praful Chandarana, MBChB, ABPN, FRCPC, Yvon Gameau, MD, FRCPC, Harold Merskey, OM, FRCPC,

should be handled with particular care. In clinical practice, an ethical psychiatrist should refrain from taking any side

The awful tragedy is that Renaissance Hotel has been designated the during the past seven years there a spouse who has not Foundation's official fifth anniversary celebration and

California (6/18/96) Grants for Victimization Breakout 14 Child Physical Abuse 83 Child Sexual Abuse 70 Adult Sexual Assault

voiced by so many FMSF members:"What can I do to help In the last six months, several new studies have described individuals who reportedly "repressed" and then Some research, based on sound cognitive-behavioral

2. Kluft RP. True lies, false truth, and naturalistic raw data: Applying clinical research findings to the fa1se memory debate. Presented at Trauma and Memory: An International

Indeed the truth does matter! Reactions to Bottoms, B. L., Shaver, P. R., & Goodman, G. S. (1996). An analysis of ritualistic and religion-related child abuse allegations. Law and HUI7Uln Behavior, Vol. 20,

child abuse allegations. Law and HUI7Uln Behavior, Vol. 20, This article describes a well-designed survey of clinical psychologists about ritualistic and religion-related child abuse allegations. It has many potential audiences, especially those interested in ritualistic and/or religion-related

"Holistic Healing and Ritual Abuse: Honoring the Body and Mind Whlle Healing the Spirit" was the title of a con~ ference sponsored by the Minnesota Awareness of Ritual Abuse Network in August, 1996 in Minnetonka, MN. Caryn

VIEW OF RECONCU..IA TION received by a mother from her son. The son received it from his therapist. The therapist is neither certified nor licensed

plishes much of this through We have seen that happen Friday, March 21, 1997. with such statements as innuendo and selective quota·

"Some families have become so desperate for action that they have picketed a therapist's office (we ~ust report that we did receive a phone call from a chent of that particular therapist ~sking us to thank the picketing families for helpmg her to conf'i_fl!l he[,

Third, we would not want to study children with only mild most of these studies are "retrospective" designs in which trauma, because then we couldn't rule out the possibility the investigators had to rely only on patients' reports of that the subject was just experiencing ordinary forgetfulness

these individuals was due to neurological injuries; no one was described as having "repressed" the memory. Wagenaar and Groeneweg (5) described 78 subjects who were seen in

event. Among the children who were 9 to 13 years old at by August Piper, Jr., M.D. the time of their injuries, there were so few errors in their recall of the events that the investigators could not even From A. G. in California comes a letter enclosing and

What do Consumers Expect? The public expects that mental health care will be safe and that it will be effective. The following five bold items indicate public expectations of mental health providers.