FMSF 2008 False Memory Syndrom

Welcome to 2008, although readers may be forgiven for thinking that some of the articles in this issue could have been written in 1993. Alas, tired old beliefs about multiple

true? Unlikely, according to our review on page 3. Does it matter? We think it does because people make sense of their own lives by what they see and hear around them. If fantasy is presented as fact in media that people consider trustworthy, some people may come to reinterpret their own lives and p

1 9 5 5 L o c u s t S t r e e t , P h i l a d e l p h i a , PA 1 9 1 0 3 - 5 7 6 6 , 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 0 , F a x 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 2 , w w w. F M S F o n l i n e . o r g ered memory fiasco. Schwarz et al. tested a flyer from the CDC that

and after subsequent counseling, "she completely blocked the memory of the abuse, the memory of the police investigation, and the memory of the counseling sessions." She claimed that she first remembered the sexual abuse on January 8, 2003 during a counseling session. This was two years after she fi

explaining the scientific evidence supporting the theory of repressed memory, Dr. Daniel Brown is of the opinion that 'repressed memory' (sometimes called 'dissociative amnesia') as applied to child abuse victims like Plaintiff is well founded scientifically and generally accepted by treating mental

by Dr. Brown, a type of amnesia, is a mental disorder of the type contemplated by the Nebraska statute. Such an illness truly precludes one from suing since one cannot elect to bring suit if one cannot remember that one has been injured."

release on a $250,000 bond along with being monitored electronically.

Secure Treatment Centre and B [social worker] v. B.D and family, Supreme Court of Canada. umontreal.ca/en/ 2007/2007scc38/2007scc38.html "The Traumatic Impact of Child Sexual

the claims about MPD in the new book by Richard Baer. That letter ended up being very useful to me. The retirement community I live in shows several movies every week. To

A reporter called the Foundation in March asking for a response to recent research showing that young children are less prone to false memories than are adults. She seemed

even traumatic events, if they are properly interviewed. The young children whose testimony has been written about in this newsletter, however, were subjected to aggressive and suggestive interviews by therapists or police officers, especially during the late 1980s and early 1990s, during the

1 9 5 5 L o c u s t S t r e e t , P h i l a d e l p h i a , PA 1 9 1 0 3 - 5 7 6 6 , 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 0 , F a x 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 2 , w w w. F M S F o n l i n e . o r g to the truth, misrepresented the existence of an error rate relating to the hypothesis of dissociative amnesia, misreprese

ileged upbringing was withdrawn in March. Or Misha Defonseca's memoir about being a Holocaust Jewish orphan at 4 who wandered alone through the forests which has also recently been exposed as false. Or Binjamin

3. See NH v. Bourgelais, No. 02-S-2834, Rockingham, NH Sup. Ct. April 4, 2005, FMSF Newsletter, 14(3). 4. Strickland, C. (2008, March 15). Herschel Walker reveals he suffers from multiple personality disorder. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved on March 26, 2008 from

4. Strickland, C. (2008, March 15). Herschel Walker reveals he suffers from multiple personality disorder. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved on March 26, 2008 from /vikings/16686526.html.

Don brought fresh insights into the pitfalls of psychotherapy. "If narrative truth is confused with historical truth, then the very coherence of an account may lead us to believe that we are making contact with an actual

Toward, the former headmaster of the school who has been in prison for the past 19 years with no end in sight. The reporter also described both the suffering and accomplishments of the former students at the school who were ages 3

By January 26, 1989, over a year later, when Tom was deposed, all the stories had grown more absurd. The story about the guns had grown also: "He had a gun at the door and then

Personality, Thursday June 25, 1992, at the Radisson Plaza Hotel, Mark Center, Alexandria, Virginia. Sponsored by the Center for Abuse Recovery & Empowerment, The Psychiatric Institute of Washington, D.C. See

"Why do some memoir authors play fast and loose with the truth? It's no big mystery. The genre is booming. It thrives on first-person accounts of abuse, addiction and other adversity. Fiction may not be

Daniel Brown, Ph.D., Accused of Nebraska Jury Award of $1.75 Million

of repression (or "dissociative amnesia"), and the reasons why those arguments fail to fulfill the criteria to show that it exists. For example, in the early 90s, Pope and colleagues set out the criteria necessary to show that repression exists: There must be evidence that the abuse actually happene

invalid? We do not know. Therefore, it is necessary to show scientifically that repression and memory recovery in response to trauma does exist if it is to be allowed as evidence in Court.

We've been surprised in the past few weeks to see the phrase "false memory" or the letters "FMS" in unusual places. Did you know, for example, that there is a music

own site. What can be done about such situations in a nation that treasures "free speech?" Even if it is possible to do something, are the time and resources worth the effort? In the case of the website that uses "FMSF," the content makes it obvious that the site is opposed to the notion of

1 9 5 5 L o c u s t S t r e e t , P h i l a d e l p h i a , PA 1 9 1 0 3 - 5 7 6 6 , 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 0 , F a x 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 2 , w w w. F M S F o n l i n e . o r g new book should go a long way toward educating the public about the problems that resulted in the false memory phenomenon

tory. On the one hand, scientists have leapt forward in understanding false memories, and we have reported that they tend to agree about what they have learned. On the other hand, on page 19 there is a quote that says: "We are no

sister of a multiple personality. New York Times. Retrieved on June 8, 2008 from her big talent." [2] A few reviewers said

problems with memories "recovered" using hypnosis. In 2006 and again before the movie aired this June, the FMSF sent out information to the

On Saturday June 7, 2008 CBS will air its remake of the movie Sybil, (based on the 1973 book with the same

On Saturday June 7, 2008 CBS will air its remake of the movie Sybil, (based on the 1973 book with the same name) about an early, alleged case of "multiple-personality

him that her "memories" were the result of suggestion by Dr. Cornelia B. Wilbur. He reports that Wilbur engaged author Flora Rheta Schreiber to write "Sybil's" case for a popular

engaged author Flora Rheta Schreiber to write "Sybil's" case for a popular audience only after professional journals refused to publish it. He refused to lend his name and credentials to coauthor the work when asked to do so by Wilbur and Schreiber.

in Rieber page 91) Schreiber reports that she had visited "Sybil's" hometown but was unable to find anyone to corroborate the awful things that supposedly happened to "Sybil" there. Schreiber was also unable to find the "woods" where many incidents

FMS Foundation Newsletter SUMMER 2008 Vol. 17 No. 3

Someday (we dream) there won't be any news for the FMSF Newsletter, but as we approach the end of 2008, it's obvious that time has not yet arrived. Battles and skirmishes keep the "memory wars" alive in the courts, the popular

obvious that time has not yet arrived. Battles and skirmishes keep the "memory wars" alive in the courts, the popular media, and the activities of some professionals. There are examples of each in this newsletter. We were taken aback this summer, for example, to learn that psychiatrist Colin Ross ap

of Social Work, often considered the most highly ranked social of social work in the country, had offered two-day courses in "power therapies" for which there is no scientific foundation. There is also information about a survey of mental health training programs in psychology, psychiatry and social

1 9 5 5 L o c u s t S t r e e t , P h i l a d e l p h i a , PA 1 9 1 0 3 - 5 7 6 6 , 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 0 , F a x 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 2 , w w w. F M S F o n l i n e . o r g seems to speak of some need for people to say that survival alone is an achievement. The avid response of readers

Try to Remember: Psychiatry's Clash Over Meaning, Memory, and Mind

of bibliography) contains a one-page list of the ten key points in the report, followed by the points in greater detail, including the research on which they are based. The report does not discuss

about who should be considered a memory expert: "someone whose expertise is recognized by their peers, i.e. other memory researchers." The report is specific about what does not

addition to the tools now available to help attorneys and judges. Although the few legal citations are British, the explanations of memory are applicable anywhere. We highly recommend reading this report, especially as it is available on the web.

memories and multiple personality disorder. He is a former president of the International Society for the Study of Multiple Personality Disorder and Dissociation and was featured in a highly critical 1993 documentary produced by the Fifth Estate on CBC. [3]

abuse, there are also a growing number of cases in which priests appear to have been wrongly convicted. The case of Rev. Gordon MacRae, which was detailed by Dorothy Rabinowitz in

Brigante on March 8, 2002 alleging that she had been sexually molested as a child by Josephine Parlato and had only recently recovered memory of such events. The Family Court judge gave the Parlatos "supervised therapeutic visitation" with a licensed psychologist, which never worked out in practice.

2. Grinberg, E. (2005, August 3). Claims of brainwashing, child abuse and a cult-like sex ring to be aired in court. CourtTVNews. Retrieved on 9/8/08 from

years ago, my oldest daughter and her family moved out of state. When she ended her 15-year marriage, she wanted to be part of the family again, but with conditions. She said: "from this day forward" and never once referred

followed, none with my husband. He wasn't ready...until last week. We were planning our annual drive North from Florida and I urged that we take a detour to visit our oldest daughter. My