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Posted by permission by FMSF. Copyright by FMSF. Originally posted at http://www.fmsfonline.org/reliable.html
Professional organizations have responded to the challenge of that question. This document contains excerpts from some professional statements that help to clarify the issue.
Read What the Experts Have to Say. . .
DISTINGUISHING TRUE FROM FALSE MEMORIES:NEED FOR CORROBORATION
“It is not known how to distinguish, withcomplete accuracy, memories basedon true events from those derived from other sources.”
American Psychiatric Association, Statement on Memories of Sexual Abuse, 1993.
“The AMA considers recovered memoriesof childhood sexual abuse to be ofuncertain authenticity, which should be subject to externalverification.”
American Medical Association, Council on Scientific Affairs, Memories ofChildhood Sexual Abuse, 1994.
“The available scientific and clinical evidencedoes not allow accurate,inaccurate, and fabricated memories to be distinguished in the absence ofindependent corroboration.”
Australian Psychological Society, Guidelines Relating to the Reporting ofRecovered Memories, 1994.
“At present there are no scientificallyvalid criteria that would generallypermit the reliable differentiation of true recovered memories of sexualabuse from pseudomemories.”
Michigan Psychological Association, Recovered Memories of Sexual Abuse: MPAPosition Paper, 1995.
“At this point it is impossible, without othercorroborative evidence, todistinguish a true memory from a false one.”
American Psychological Association, Questions and Answers about Memories ofChildhood Abuse, 1995.
“Psychologists acknowledge that a definiteconclusion that a memory isbased on objective reality is not possible unless there is incontrovertiblecorroborating evidence.”
Canadian Psychological Association, Position Statement on Adult RecoveredMemories of Childhood Sexual Abuse, 1996.
HYPNOSIS AND MEMORYRECOVERY TECHNIQUES
“The Council finds that recollections obtainedduring hypnosis can involveconfabulations and pseudomemories and not only fail to be more accurate,but actually appear to be less reliable than nonhypnotic recall.”
American Medical Association, Council on Scientific Affairs, ScientificStatus of Refreshing Recollections by the Use of Hypnosis, 1985.
“Psychiatrists are advised to avoidengaging in any ‘memory recoverytechniques’ which are based upon the expectation of past sexual abuse ofwhich the patient has no memory. Such ‘memory recovery techniques’ mayinclude drug-mediated interviews, hypnosis, regression therapies, guidedimagery, ‘body memories,’ literal dream interpretation and journaling.There is no evidence that the use of consciousness-altering techniques,such as drug-mediated interviews or hypnosis, can reveal or accuratelyelaborate factual information about any past experiences includingchildhood sexual abuse. Techniques on regression therapy including ‘ageregression’ and hypnotic regression are of unprovedeffectiveness.”
Royal College of Psychiatrists, Reported Recovered Memories of Child SexualAbuse, 1997. (UK)
GENERAL CAUTION
“The use of recovered memories is fraught withproblems of potentialmisapplication.”
American Medical Association, Council on Scientific Affairs, Memories ofChildhood Sexual Abuse, 1994.
SYMPTOMS AS INDICATORSOF PAST ABUSE
“There is no single set of symptoms whichautomatically indicates that aperson was a victim of childhood abuse. There have been media reports oftherapists who state that people (particularly women) with a particular setof problems or symptoms must have been victims of childhood sexual abuse.There is no scientific evidence that supports this conclusion.”
American Psychological Association, Questions and Answers about Memories ofChildhood Abuse, 1995.
“Psychologists recognize that there is noconstellation of symptoms whichis diagnostic of child sexual abuse.”
Canadian Psychological Association, Position Statement on Adult RecoveredMemories of Childhood Sexual Abuse, 1996.
“Previous sexual abuse in the absence of memories ofthese events cannot bediagnosed through a checklist of symptoms.”
Royal College of Psychiatrists, Reported Recovered Memories of Child SexualAbuse, 1997. (UK)
TRAUMATIC MEMORIES
“Most people who were sexually abused aschildren remember all or part ofwhat happened to them although they may not fully understand or discloseit.”
American Psychological Association, Working Group on Investigation ofMemories of Child Abuse, 1996.
“While traumatic memories may be differentthan (sic) ordinary memories, we currently do not have conclusivescientific consensus on this issue.”
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Childhood TraumaRemembered: A Report on the Current Scientific Knowledge Base and itsApplications, 1996.
“[B]ecause exactly what is meant by the termsof ‘repression’ and’dissociation’ is far from clear, their use has become idiosyncratic,metaphoric, and arbitrary.”
Scientific Advisory Board of the FMS Foundation, Statement on RecoveredMemories, 1998.
STATEMENTS THATMAY REFLECTSUBSTANDARD PRACTICES:
1. “You have the symptoms of someone who was abused.”
2. “Studies show that (or, my experience is that) most people with [fillin the particular diagnosis or symptoms here] were sexually abused.”
3. “If you think you were abused, then you probably were.”
4. “Remembering is essential if you want to be healed.”
5. “This technique (hypnosis, guided imagery, sodium amytal, etc.) isdesigned to help you remember.”
6. “Suing (forgiving, detaching from, etc.) your family is a necessarypart of healing.”
7. “You have to get worse before you get better.”
8. “Your body holds accurate memories of past events.”
WHEN DEALING WITH RECOVERED MEMORIESKEEP IN MIND THAT:
“Research has shown that over time memory forevents can be changed orreinterpreted in such a way as to make the memory more consistent with theperson’s present knowledge and/or expectations.”
American Psychological Association, 1995.
“Memories also can be significantly influencedby a trusted person.”
American Psychiatric Association, 1994.
“The AMA considers recovered memories of childhoodsexual abuse to be ofuncertain authenticity, which should be subject to externalverification.”
American Medical Association, 1994.