Memories Of Sexual Abuse Research Articles

Degrees of Memory of Childhood Sexual Abuse Among Women Survivors in Therapy

Past and current memory for childhood sexual abuse reported by a clinical sample of 160 women survivors was assessed utilizing a structured clinical interview. Response alternatives for memory were ordered along a continuum. To minimize treatment effects, participants were interviewed as early in therapy as possible. Fairly complete recollection both in the past and currently was reported by 26.3% of the sample, 36.9% apparently lost and subsequently recovered sexual abuse memories, and 36.9% endorsed intermediate degrees of memory. Only 2.5% indicated a decrease in degree of recollection over time. Age at onset was the only abuse characteristic found to differentiate participants with fairly complete memory from the rest of the sample. Findings are interpreted as illustrating that conclusions about memory for abuse are highly dependent on the way inquiries are conceptualized and worded.

Community members' perceptions of evidence: the effects of gender in a recovered memory civil trial.

Community members judged a civil trial in which a memory had either been recovered or kept secret until therapy 12 years later. Female jurors were more likely to find the defendant liable and to compensate female plaintiffs more than male plaintiffs, whereas the reverse pattern held for male jurors. Female plaintiffs who reported recovered memories were compensated least, whereas female plaintiffs who kept the abuse secret were compensated most. A mediational model was posited and results indicated that the origin of the memory of sexual abuse and victim gender influenced assessments of trial testimonies that were related to the trial outcomes. Results supported the postulated model and indicated significant juror-gender differences in evaluating and weighing the evidence.

Memory, amnesia, and the issue of recovered memory: Neurobiological aspects

The main thesis of this article is that the debate about the credibility of “recovered memories”—reports by adults of recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse and trauma that were allegedly repressed for many years—can be usefully informed by considering the biological and behavioral facts and ideas about how memory works. Accordingly, the first section of this review describes current facts and ideas about the neurobiology and neuropsychology of memory and amnesia, including what parts of the brain are important for memory, distinctions between different memory systems in the brain, and the phenomena of infantile amnesia and source amnesia. The second section takes into account the information about the biological and behavioral bases of memory and addresses two questions about memory that have become a focus of debate in the recovered memory controversy, that is, whether memories for traumatic events change over time, and whether memories can be created for traumatic events that did not actually happen.

Memories of childhood sexual abuse: a survey of young adults

Objective: To explore the prevalence of, characteristics of, and factors associated with forgetting of childhood sexual abuse memories in a large non-clinical sample ( N = 1712). Method: Using an anonymous survey, we asked respondents about (a) the nature and severity of their childhood abuse; (b) the continuity of their abuse memories; and (c) their experiences with others suggesting to them that they might have been abused. Results: A substantial minority of victims in our sample reported having temporarily forgotten their childhood sexual abuse. Forgetting was largely unassociated with victim or abuse characteristics. Compared to individuals who always remembered their abuse, however, individuals who temporarily forgot were more likely to report that someone had suggested to them that they might have experienced abuse. Those who received such suggestions were particularly likely to suspect that they may have experienced childhood sexual abuse that they do not yet remember. Conclusion: Forgetting may be less common than implied by earlier estimates from clinical samples, yet it is not uncommon. Also, a sizable minority of the population is wondering whether they have experienced unremembered abuse, and these suspicions are linked to having encountered suggestions from others. We discuss the implications of these findings for understanding the phenomenon sometimes labeled repression. Spanish abstract was not available at time of publication.

“Recovered-memory” therapy: Profession at a turning point

Six hundred Massachusetts-registered psychiatrists were surveyed for their opinions on items plausibly related to the production of false memories of childhood sexual abuse. One hundred fifty-four psychiatrists completed the written questionnaire. A majority of respondents (69%) endorsed the following statement: “The numbers of false accusations of childhood sexual abuse, appearing to emerge from the psychotherapy of adults, constitute a real problem needing public acknowledgment as such by the mental health professions.” Nevertheless, a substantial minority endorsed the following practices: 37% endorsed searching for childhood roots of presenting complaints; 36% endorsed validation (expressed belief) of the patient's memories as an essential part of therapy; 36% believed in appropriateness of affect as an indicator of truth in memories; 36% believed in the therapeutic value of abreaction; 26% would refer presumed survivors of abuse to specialists in incest recovery; 18% believed in ritual abuse as an important cause of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dissociative disorders; 18% trusted symptom checklists as indicators of sexual abuse histories; and 15% believed that memory is a complete record of the individual's history. Small minorities (6% to 8%) endorsed these practices: using hypnosis to gain access to repressed memories of childhood abuse; patient confrontation of alleged abusers; and recommending the severing of contacts with skeptical family members. A factor analysis was performed, and it was found that self-designated specialists were more likely than nonspecialists to score toward the riskier pole of the four factors extracted.

Factors Influencing Counseling Center Staff's Perceptions of Treatment Difficulty in Relation to Student Childhood Sexual Abuse

Influence of the client variables of frequency and memory of sexual abuse, as well as the therapist variables of gender, relevant professional experience, and personal history of sexual abuse, on treatment perceptions was examined. A random, national sample of university counseling center staff participated and responded to a repeated set of five questions after reading each of four different client vignettes. Client variables of frequency of abuse and memory for the abuse, as well as therapist variables of gender and related professional experience, significantly influenced treatment perceptions, while therapist history of sexual abuse did not. Additionally, the influence of externally imposed session limits was examined, and those therapists operating under brief therapy session limits were more likely to refer all sexually abused clients, especially those clients perceived to be more severe, than they would if they operated with no session limits. Implications for assessment, training, and brief therapy were explored.

Internal evidence and corroboration of traumatic memories of child sexual abuse with addictive disorders

Patients with addictive disorders often report difficulty remembering trauma, although research shows traumatic experiences as being common antecedents of the onset of addictive illness. Based on clinical experience and review of the clinical and legal research literature, the author proposes that a cluster of six clinical findings is a potential indicator of internal corroboration that trauma occurred, especially child sexual abuse. These six clinical findings include: the presence of a high-risk disorder or illness; posttraumatic stress disorder; age regression, flashbacks, abreactions, or other re-experiencing of the trauma; repetitions, repetition compulsions, or reenactments; characteristics of the memories themselves; and other patterns, dynamics, and connections. This framework can serve as a useful and clinical paradigm for all illnesses, including the addictive disorders.

The ‘false memory’ debate: A critical review of the research on recovered memories of child sexual abuse

Although there has been a wealth of discussion concerning the issue of recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse, most papers represent one or other of two extreme stances in what has become an increasingly polarized debate. This paper evaluates the evidence put forward by both sides of the controversy, arguing for a rational and measured approach, and highlights the importance of the debate for Counselling Psychologists.

The Poole et al. (1995) Surveys of Therapists: Misinterpretations by Both Sides of the Recovered Memories Controversy

Olio (1996) critically reviewed an article by Poole, Lindsay, Memon, and Bull (1995) that reported surveys of clinicians' beliefs and practices regarding their clients' memories of childhood sexual abuse. Olio's article made several apt points that correctly identified limitations on the kinds of conclusions that can be drawn from the Poole et al. data, but it also made several erroneous claims. Some of these errors have been repeated in articles citing Olio by Pope (1996, 1997) and Brown (1998). In this commentary we respond to those of Olio's criticisms with which we disagree, next briefly comment on limitations of the Poole et al. data, and then turn to a more general discussion of ways in which the Poole et al. data have sometimes been misinterpreted by both sides of the controversy regarding recovered-memory experiences.

Suspected Repressed Childhood Sexual Abuse

This article explores therapists' responses to clients' suspicions that they have repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Each participant was randomly assigned one of two vignettes, varied for gender, each concerning a client who suspects that he/she is a victim of CSA. Following the vignette, a series of questions regarding the client assesses the participants' ratings of diagnoses, treatment goals, treatment plans, appropriate responses, and validity of suspicions. Participants were significantly more likely to endorse a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and endorse treatments focusing on present symptoms over treatments focusing on the client's past. Participants were unlikely to endorse controversial treatments, suggestive statements, or strong opinions regarding the client's suspicions of CSA. The client's gender had a significant effect on diagnoses only. These results do not support reports that many therapists neglect clients' current symptoms and instead focus on memories, use controversial techniques, make suggestive statements regarding abuse, or immediately assume that their clients have repressed memories.

Commentary

The study of trauma is inherently political. It is hard for psychiatrists to maintain an open mind, to respect and tolerate uncertainty and to maintain standards of scrutiny of scientific data when there are powerful political and emotional pressures to take up a polarised view of recovered memories of child sexual abuse. The two polarisations that have arisen are of recovered memories as invariably historically accurate versus recovered memories as invariably false and created by suggestion by clinicians. Current evidence suggests the psychiatrist should take up a cautious position somewhere between these two poles.

Recovered memory therapy: a dubious practice technique.

This article examines the validity of memory work as well as the evidence for the efficacy of therapeutic interventions based in the recovery of childhood sexual abuse memories. Evidence suggests that both true and false memories can be recovered using memory work techniques, and there is no evidence that reliable discriminations can be made between them. Similarly, there is no empirical evidence to suggest that recovered memory therapy results in improved outcomes for participating clients. The article reviews current treatment outcome research and suggests that participation in recovered memory therapy may be harmful to clients.

Was Anna O.’s Black Snake Hallucination a Sleep Paralysis Nightmare? Dreams, Memories, and Trauma

The final traumatic event recalled by Anna O. during her treatment with Josef Breuer was a terrifying hallucination she once had of a black snake attacking her ailing father. This event has been variously interpreted as indicating an underlying psychodynamic conflict, as a temporal lobe seizure, and as an hypnotic confabulation. We argue, however, that the hallucination--during which Anna O.'s arm was reportedly "asleep" due to nerve blockage--was probably a sleep paralysis nightmare. Sleep paralysis nightmares continue to be overlooked or misdiagnosed in clinical practice, and, in recent years, have been implicated in the controversy surrounding memories of trauma and sexual abuse.

The Delayed Memory Controversy in an Epidemiological Framework

Epidemiological concerns about base rates, true and false positives, and the possibility of an epidemic of therapy-induced false memories are frequently raised in the debate over delayed memories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Most references to epidemiological concepts emphasize the potential problem of false positives arising from therapists' assessments of CSA but neglect the potential problem of false negatives. A more balanced epidemiological analysis that includes estimations of the risks of both false positives and false negatives is more relevant to clinical concerns and better identifies gaps in our understanding of this area. This article presents estimates for certain epidemiological variables based on available research and a range of suppositions. The evidence at hand suggests that the rate of false negatives for CSA history poses a larger epidemiological problem than the rate of false positives.

Childhood Trauma Remembered: A Report on the Current Scientific Knowledge Base and Its Applications

ABSTRACT This article was developed by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) to inform professionals and the public about the complex and important issues that are involved in the current controversy about memories of childhood sexual abuse. It addresses the questions of childhood trauma, traumatic memory, the memory process, clinical issues and forensic implications pertaining to this controversy. We have tried to present a balanced review of these issues. As an international organization dedicated to promoting the best research and education in this field, we believe it essential that people who grapple with this controversial topic be equipped with the most accurate and comprehensive information possible. We hope that this article helps serve this purpose.

False memory syndrome – balancing the evidence for and against

AbstractThe false memory syndrome has been the subject of recent intense debate. Can false memories of child sexual abuse be engendered in the minds of susceptible individuals by well meaning therapists? This paper examines the evidence for false memories. Memory in childhood and adults is discussed, and the different processes involved in traumatic memory are emphasised. Evidence for amnesia following sexual abuse with subsequent recall is presented.It is important to weigh carefullythe evidence both for and against the false memory syndrome. Good evidence for false memories exists, but conversely amnesia and subsequent recall of sexual abuse undoubtedly occur. The principle of primum non nocere is particularly important in guiding therapeutic endeavours.

Notes From a Practice Under Siege: Harassment, Defamation, and intimidation in the Name of Science

I have practiced psychotherapy, family therapy, and hypnotherapy for over 25 years without a single board complaint or lawsuit by a client. For over 3 years, however, a group of proponents of the false memory syndrome (FMS) hypothesis, including members, officials, and supporters of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation, Inc., have waged a multimodal campaign of harassment and defamation directed against me, my clinical clients, my staff, my family, and others connected to me. I have neither treated these harassers or their families nor had any professional or personal dealings with any of them; I am not related in any way to the disclosures of memories of sexual abuse in these families. Nonetheless, this group disrupts my professional and personal life and threatens to drive me out of business. In this article, I describe practicing psychotherapy under a state of siege and place the campaign against me in the context of a much broader effort in the FMS movement to denigrate, defame, and harass clinicians, lecturers, writers, and researchers identified with the abuse and trauma treatment communities.

Recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse. Implications for clinical practice.

The growth in the USA of 'recovered memory therapy' for past sexual abuse has caused great public and professional concern. It became apparent that the polarisation of views and fierce controversy within the American psychiatric community was in danger of bringing psychotherapy into disrepute and it seemed important to examine objectively the scientific evidence before such polarisation developed in the UK. A small working group reviewed their own experience, visited meetings and centres with expertise in this field, interviewed 'retractors' and accused parents, and then began a comprehensive review of the literature. There is a vast literature but little acceptable research. Opinions are expressed with great conviction but often unsupported by evidence. The issue of false or recovered memories should not be allowed to confuse the recognition and treatment of sexually abused children. We concluded that when memories are 'recovered' after long periods of amnesia, particularly when extraordinary means were used to secure the recovery of memory, there is a high probability that the memories are false, i.e. of incidents that had not occurred. Some guidelines which should enable practitioners to avoid the pitfalls of memory recovery are offered.

Recovered memories of child sexual abuse and liability: Society, science, and the law in a comparative setting.

This article considers the social and scientific dimensions of the phenomenon of recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse. The authors analyze how those dimensions have influenced the courts in dealing with claims arising from recovered memories. In particular, the article takes up the vexed issue of the liability of therapists who have allegedly induced false memories. As elsewhere, comparative legal analysis is used to attempt to describe and then prescribe how courts should define therapist liability. A resolution of the boundaries of liability turns upon the formulation of sound professional standards drawing upon policies embedded in the law and responsibilities of science and clinical practice.

Recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse: Clinicians' practices and beliefs.

Recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse: Clinicians' practices and beliefs.