Myths of Memory Recovery Therapy and the Realities

Myths of 'Memory Recovery Therapy' and the Realities

Myth: Hypnosis can "reverse amnesia" or "recover memories."

"Contrary to what is generally believed by the public, recollections obtained during hypnosis not only fail to be more accurate but actually appear to be generally less reliable than nonhypnotic recall." -- "Scientific Status of Refreshing Recollection by the Use of Hypnosis," American Medical Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs, 1985

Myth: Checklists of symptoms like those in The Courage to Heal can be used to diagnose childhood sexual abuse.

Previous sexual abuse in the absence of memories of these events cannot be diagnosed through a checklist of symptoms." -- Royal College of Psychiatrists, U.K., 1997

Myth: Techniques such as sodium amytal interviews, hypnosis, age regression, guided imagery, dream interpretation, journaling, or the diagnosis of 'body memories' can be used to accurately recover forgotten or "repressed" memories.

"Psychiatrists are advised to avoid engaging in any 'memory recovery techniques' which are based upon the expectation of past sexual abuse of which the patient has no memory. Such 'memory recovery techniques' may include drug-mediated interviews, hypnosis, regression therapies, guided imagery, '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 accurately elaborate factual information about any past experiences including childhood sexual abuse. Techniques of regression therapy including 'age regression' and hypnotic regression are of unproven effectiveness." -- Royal College of Psychiatrists, U.K., 1997

"You must believe that your client was sexually abused, even if she sometimes doubts it herself .... Joining a client in doubt would be like joining a suicidal client in her belief that suicide is the best way out." -- The Courage to Heal, First Edition, p.347

A strong prior belief by the psychiatrist that sexual abuse, or other factors, are or are not the cause of the patient's problems is likely to interfere with appropriate assessment and treatment." -- The American Psychiatric Association Board Statement On Memories Of Sexual Abuse

Myth: "If your client says she wasn't abused but you suspect that she was, ask again later." -- The Courage to Heal, First Edition, p.350

"Memories can be significantly influenced by questioning, especially in young children. Memories also can be significantly influenced by a trusted person (e.g., therapist, parent involved in a custody dispute) who suggests abuse as an explanation for symptoms/problems, despite initial lack of memory of such abuse. It has also been shown that repeated questioning may lead individuals to report "memories" of events that never occurred. " -- The American Psychiatric Association Board Statement On Memories Of Sexual Abuse

Myth:"Recovering memories" is a safe and effective form of counseling.

"Loftus (1997) reviewed 30 cases selected at random from 670 claims submitted to the Washington Victims Compensation Program. Twenty-six had 'recovered' a memory of abuse through therapy. All 30 were still in therapy after three years, 18 for more than five years. After treatment 20 were suicidal compared with three before treatment began, 11 were hospitalised (cf. two before treatment), eight engaged in self-mutilation (cf. one before) and marriage break-up occurred in almost all. It appears that in these cases, recovery and abreaction had serious adverse effects." -- Sydney Brandon, M.D., et al, "Recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse: implications for clinical practice," British Journal of Psychiatry, April 98, p. 303

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