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The FMSF Newsletter is published 10 times a year by the False
Memory Syndrome Foundation. A hard-copy subscription is in-
cluded in membership fees. Others may subscribe by sending a
check or money order, payable to FMS Foundation, to the ad-
dress above. 1994 subscription rates: USA: 1 year $30, Stu-
dent $10; Canada: $35 (in U.S. dollars); Foreign: $40; Foreign
student $20; Single issue price: $3. ISSN #1069-0484
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INSIDE:
Rumors
Legal Corner
T.
Lindsay
Piper
McHugh
Ofshe
Retractor's Corner
From Our Readers
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Dear Friends,
If any other medical product had more than 16,000 complaints, it
would be taken off the market and examined.
If the American Medical Association issued a warning about the
dangerous side-effects of a drug, it would either be pulled from the
market or patients would be asked for informed consent before
administration.
Why is Recovered Memory Therapy still being defended by so many
professionals?
To our knowledge, the state of Washington is the first state to
respond in a responsible manner to the mental health crisis of False
Memory Syndrome. The state has responded to the complaint of one
family in the manner that more than 16,000 consumers have requested.
Chuck Noah and his wife have been fighting for three years to clear
their names. As reported in the Seattle Post Intelligencer on February
22, 1995, their campaign involved setting up placards and picketing at
the state Capitol, in front of Gateway Counseling where their daughter
was a patient, in front of the church once attended by Paul Ingram,
and at Evergreen State College in Olympia. Last year, the Noahs'
trailer was burned at Evergreen.
In February, the Noahs learned that Linda Rae MacDonald of Gateway
Counseling, their daughter's therapist, was notified by the Health
Professions Quality Assurance Division of the state of Washington
Health Department that she will lose her license to practice unless
she can successfully defend herself against administrative charges.
As far as is known, this is the first time that any State Department
of Health has acted in this way on a complaint by a THIRD PARTY
(parent) against a therapist/counselor of their daughter. The
"Statement of Charges" is signed by Delores E. Spice, Executive
Director, Health Professions Section Two, Health Professions Quality
Assurance Division, Department of Health, State of Washington.
Dr. Spice includes the following among her "grounds for disciplinary
action" against MacDonald:
* Respondent encouraged G.M. [the client] to set up "boundaries"
with her family and not allow any of her family to contact her while
she was being counseled...The isolation encouraged G.M. to become
dependent on Respondent.
* Respondent "validated" G.M.'s memories of alleged childhood sexual
abuse without seeking or encouraging G.M. to seek information from
others that would objectively validate the memories of alleged
childhood sexual abuse.
* Respondent encouraged G.M. to explain her family's response to her
allegation of childhood sexual abuse as her family being in denial and
did not suggest or encourage alternate explanations for her family's
response.
* Respondent interpreted G.M.'s hallucinations as 'satanic ritual
abuse' and did not explore alternate explanations or interpretations
for the hallucinations.
The state of New Hampshire is the second state to respond to the
crisis -- in an entirely different manner. While it is not clear what
the outcome will be, the legislature held its first hearing in
February on a bill that would require that patients undergoing
experimental methods such as Recovered Memory Therapy be informed of
the risks and limitations of the treatment if government or insurance
monies are involved. The informed consent portion of the Mental Health
Bill of Rights currently applies only patients in hospitals that
receive federal money. The impetus for the introduction of this
legislation was the imprisonment of one man for one month on the basis
of a therapist's interpretation of his daughter's dream.
We don't know why so many professionals continue to defend Recovered
Memory Therapy given the risks and costs involved with its practice.
In part, we suspect, it is related to the overall extravagant climate
of the 1980's in which "entrepreneurs glutted the market with new
psychiatric hospitals" and "patients could stay in talk therapy for
years." (Inquirer, 2/5/95, The new world of mental health)
The difficulty that consumers face when they try to point out wrongs
in the mental health field was given dramatic attention this month
when 10 Texas psychiatrists filed a lawsuit against ex-patients who
had made complaints (The New York Times on February 24, 1995). The
case is part of the National Medical Enterprises fraud suit in which
NME paid a $370 million fine. The lawsuit by the psychiatrists is
especially interesting because many of the patients were minors and
because they had testified before congress which generally grants
immunity from such suits. Lawyers for the former patients have
suggested that the suits are a way to intimidate people who
complain. Lawyers for the psychiatrists claim that they are merely
asserting claims for damage done by untrue statements.
Retractors report that they are facing a tremendous amount of
difficulty in their efforts to bring accountability in their cases.
Former mental patients face bias in terms of being considered reliable
witnesses. In the first cast of a former Recovered Memory Therapy
patient suing a therapist to go to trial, for example, the defense
even demanded that her home computer be brought to the court.
We look forward to the response from professional organizations on
their position about professionals suing former patients who have made
complaints. Perhaps at the same time they will respond to the
theoretical constructs of Recovered Memory Therapy -- including the
position that lawsuits against parents are therapeutic.
PAMELA
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| The AMA considers recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse to |
| be of uncertain authenticity which should be subject to external |
| verification. The use of recovered memories is fraught with |
| problems of potential misapplication. |
| AMA, June 16, 1994 |
\____________________________________________________________________/
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GREAT NEWS
Matching-Offer Surpassed
Our challenge to raise $100,000 between December 1, 1994 and
February 28, 1995 to match $100,000 from a generous member has been
met - and well before the deadline! Some 550 members and Friends have
contributed over $150,000, and pledges and payments are still
arriving.
This is indeed great news. We are off to a fine start for the new
year. Still, continuing generous contributions are needed to meet an
operating budget of $1 million dollars. Membership dues, while very
important, only cover about 1/3 of our cash needs.
Our deep and sincere thanks to each of you whose contributions make
the achievements of the foundation possible.
Charles Caviness
Development Chair
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| The Hardcopy edition has a pie-chart here labeled |
| HOW FMSF MONEY IS SPENT |
| with the following information for march 1993 - feb 1994 |
| membership 7% |
| fund-raising 1% |
| general/adm 19% |
| conference 10% |
| research |
| and education 63% |
\____________________________________________________________________/
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RUMORS
You can tell a lot about your critics just by listening to the
rumors they spread. Almost from the beginning there have been rumors
about imminent government action against the Foundation and its
principals. Occasionally such rumors go further: we have an audiotape
of a public lecture that started with the news that one of us had
already been convicted as a "sex offender." A new rumor is that the
Foundation is a front for the managed care industry. (For the record:
we have accepted no contributions from any insurance company or HMO.)
The most persistent rumors have been that the Foundation is suing
therapists and writers and this rumor has reached new heights in the
past few months. We received a phone call recently from someone who
had been discussing the possibility of a program on False Memory
Syndrome that would include a segment on the Foundation. "Is that a
good idea?" he was asked. "I've been told by a Harvard professor that
FMSF is suing any people who try to have an academic discussion on the
issue." We didn't want to pay much attention to such an absurd notion
but a week later we received a letter from the west coast requesting
clarification of the same rumor.
The FMS Foundation has not been involved in any lawsuit either as
defendant or plaintiff. None of its directors, advisors or staff
members are involved in any lawsuit stemming from their association
with FMS. With one exception we have never even gotten close to
suggesting such an action.
But there is one exception and it needs to be looked at. A strongly
worded letter was sent to John Backus, Sc. D. and Barbara Una
Stannard, Ph.D. in response to their article entitled, "Your Memories
Are Not False: A Reply to the False Memory Syndrome Foundation" which
has been widely published on the Internet and in survivor groups.
According to the July 1994 issue of The Healing Woman, Barbara
Stannard is a writer who is working on two books, an account of her
recovery from incest and "A Few Kind Words About Hate." John Backus is
a computer scientist and a survivor. Actually, he is best known as the
creator of the computer language Fortran. (Besides creating the most
successful language in the "imperative" programming style he pioneered
the development of its best alternative, the "functional" style.) He
is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and is a
member of the the National Academy of Science. He received the
National Medal of Science in 1975, the Turing Prize in 1977, and the
Pender Award in 1983.
A strongly worded letter was indeed sent to Backus and Stannard in
September 1994. The strong wording was occasioned not by their attack
on the Foundation's positions but by their personal attack on its
Executive Director.
Backus and Stannard replied in October 1994. They tried to make it
sound as if "the FMSF continues to threaten those who disagree with
them..."
A reply to Backus and Stannard in October 1994 stated:
"The letter I sent to you was not in response to the fact that your
ideas about memory are not in accordance with what the memory
research shows. I wrote because you stated your opinions about me as
though they were fact. For just one example, you stated in your
article the following, "In spite of the dysfunctional family
history, in spite of their untruthful and malicious efforts to
damage their daughter's career and reputation..." What is your
evidence that anything I have said is "untruthful"? You have called
me a liar. What is your evidence that I have ever acted in malice?
You have claimed that I acted to harm my daughter. You stated, "If
she were truly a loving mother..." In that statement, you imply
that I did not love my daughter. The law may give you the right to
publish what you will, but human decency does not give anyone the
right to say that I do not love my daughter."
Our strong wording was occasioned by their personal attack, not
their positions on the issues, but readers of this Newsletter may be
interested in what Backus and Stannard have to say on the issues. The
following summarizes their view of FMSF and of memory recovery. "The
backlash movement denies the reality of childhood sexual abuse,
claiming that survivors make up their memories or have them
'implanted' by therapists." Of course no responsible person denies the
reality of childhood sexual abuse and, as we've pointed out before,
the gross simplification of therapists "implanting" memories is not an
FMSF notion. Backus and Stannard continue:
"Many supporters of this movement claim that most people cannot
remember anything that happened before about two years of age. While
it may be true that most adults do not consciously recall very early
events, there is a great amount of evidence that they nevertheless
retain early memories. We know this is true because these memories
can be accessed using techniques such as hypnosis, meditation, drugs
such as LSD, and certain breathing exercises. Scientists view these
techniques with great distrust, but the evidence is overwhelming
that accurate early memories can be recovered by careful use of
these techniques."
Yes, they really believe that early memories can be recovered with
hypnosis, mediation, LSD and breathing exercises (!). Some of their
other statements about the nature of memory are just as delectable:
"That infants do retain memories of what happens to them is the
subject of scientific books, which give many examples of two- to
four-year-olds who remember their birth in surprising detail. One
little girl, speaking of life in the womb, said, "There was a snake
in there with me...," an obvious reference to the umbilical
cord. This same child reported there was a "doggie" in there also
which she played with "like this" (waving her arms about) and
hearing it bark. It turned out that her mother had acquired a puppy
five months before the birth and the dog had spent a lot of time on
her stomach. Many similar stories, which parents confirm, are
recounted by children who have been told nothing about their birth.
This data makes clear that many children remember a great deal about
their birth and prenatal life.
"A respected Buddhist meditation teacher...reports that students
who practice serious meditation often have experiences like this:
'...suddenly I was one year old. I was back there with my spoon,
banging on the table.' The FMSF's assertion that very early memories
are virtually non-existent is another example of its ignorance and
its bias: the FMSF seeks only to verify its beliefs; it ignores the
volumes of evidence that contradict its position."
Statements like these, for all their scientific naivete and all their
insulting references to the Foundation are, of course, fully protected
not only by the U.S Constitution, but by the most fundamental
standards of free inquiry. Statements making assertions of fact,
however, about the personal life of an individual are quite another
matter.
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| STUDY SAYS NO EVIDENCE OF ORGANIZED RITUAL SATANIC ABUSE |
| The Connection, 11 #1, Winter 1995 |
| Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children |
| |
| A study conducted for the National Center on Child Abuse and |
| Neglect concludes that claims of an organized satanic cult who |
| molest, torture and sometimes murder children, are usually |
| fictitious. While there have been documented cases involving |
| individual perpetrators who are involved with satanism, there was |
| no concrete evidence to suggest any large scale satanic cults are |
| in operation. The survey included 11,000 psychiatrists, |
| psychologists, clinical social workers, police and social service |
| agencies. From 12,000 accusations of ritual cult abuse, no |
| substantiation was found. Sensational press coverage and numerous |
| accusations pointing at cults were noted as responsible for some |
| of the public perception for this type of abuse was widespread. |
| |
| For a copy of the study contact NCCAN 1-800-FYI-3366. |
\____________________________________________________________________/
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JEFFREY VICTOR WINS H.L.MENCKEN AWARD
Dale Anderson
Buffalo News, February 4, 1995
"Professor Honored For Book On Satanism:
Sociologist Studied 'Panic' Bred By Cult Scares"
Jeffrey Victor, Ph.D., a member of the FMSF Advisory Board, has won
the H.L. Mencken Award, a national book award given by an
organization of journalists concerned with First Amendment rights, for
Satanic Panic: The Creation of a Contemporary Legend (Open Court,
1993). The book examines the nature and consequences of the satanic
cult scare.
Dr. Victor became interested in this topic when a satanic cult rumor
swept his home town, Jamestown, NY in 1988. His son, who was 16 at
the time, started to receive telephone death treats from people who
believed he was a satanist - perhaps because he favored a punk
look. Victor called the police.
"The police said there was nothing there. Journalists said it was
only a rumor. But rumors can feed anxieties. A hundred cars went to a
place that was thought to be a ritual site. People were breaking into
warehouses. People were downtown with baseball bats, and there was not
a baseball game. It was a bizarre scenario."
"Twenty-five percent or more of the elementary-school students were
kept home from school by their parents because the cult was rumored to
be planning the kidnap or murder of a blond child. It developed in
midwinter and it reached a peak on Friday the 13th. It was classic."
"There were similar stories in other towns. It happened in Cuba, NY
and Ridgeway, PA. I came to realize it was very widespread. But no one
ever found any satanists, any more than people found witches in the
Middle Ages.
In Cobleskill, NY a report that there were people in the woods in
costumes with swords and candles resulted in the arrival of police
with guns who found only a group of students from a nearby technical
institute having a Halloween party. What if the police had started
shooting?
Victor reported that one of the biggest panics took place near
Toledo, Ohio. There the police used bulldozers to dig up the land in
which bodies were rumored to be buried. National press and satanic
experts watched the dig in which only trash was found.
In New Hampshire there was a rumor that involved half the state. The
rumor was that there were animal sacrifices and a place where animals
were hung up. A journalist investigated and discovered a state road
crew that was picking up road kill and dumping them behind a storage
shed.
It is unlikely that Satanic Panic will ever make a profit. Victor is
being sued for $1 million by two of the therapists he mentioned in the
book.
"They've filed against me and my publisher, who's already spent more
on my defense than the book will ever make. The lawsuit is totally
ridiculous. Everything I wrote was fully documented in complete
scholarly detail."
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LEGAL CORNER
FMSF Staff
___________________________________________________
Patients Sue Psychologist Over False Abuse Memories
Post Register (Idaho) February 5, 1995
Paul B. Johnson
An Idaho Falls psychologist is being sued by two former patients who
claim that he used hypnosis to convince them they were victims of
childhood sexual abuse and satanic rituals.
One suit states that the therapist told a patient that her parents
could kill her in order to silence her, that she must cut off all
contact with her parents and adopt a new family.
Both suits claim that the therapist used "ideomotor signaling" to
have them respond to questions when they were under hypnosis.
Ideomotor signaling involves having a patient move an appropriate
finger to indicate a "yes," "no" or "can't answer" response. The
theory behind ideomotor signaling is that the muscles in the hands are
a direct line from the subconscious mind. The suits claim that the
psychologist actually tapped the patients' hands nearest the finger
that would indicate a "yes" response.
________________________
Lawsuits Against Parents
Lawsuit against parents dismissed with prejudice
What is happening to the hundreds of lawsuits based solely on
memories recovered in therapy that have been brought against parents?
When the following case was filed, it resulted in sensationalized
newspaper and television coverage. Not the therapist, not the
accuser's lawyer, not the television talk show hosts, not the
newspaper reporters -- not one of them bothered to check the
records. We received the following note from the accused telling us
that the case had finally been dropped. Most of these cases are
dropped, but at what price?
A little more than four years ago, our daughter initiated a lawsuit
against both of us, accusing us of the most bizarre and unbelievable
acts of sexual abuse and satanic ritual abuse. There was no truth to
any of her claims, nor was there one scintilla of evidence against
us. If the therapist or her attorney had made any attempt to
corroborate the "memories" which were uncovered in therapy, she would
have seen pediatric records and a gynecological examination report
verifying that there was no trauma. (Some of the horrendous things she
accused us of would have left scars.)
Our daughter's lawsuit against us has just been dismissed with
prejudice, meaning that she can never initiate another suit against us
on these charges. We strongly proclaimed our innocence from the
beginning, and defended the lawsuit vigorously. At what cost?
Monetarily, it has cost in excess of $80,000, and the final bills are
not yet in. (We were fortunate in not only getting excellent legal
representation, but an attorney who discounted legal fees by 25%, or
else the cost would have been substantially higher.) Emotionally,
there is no figure that can represent that cost to us. But perhaps
the cost to our daughter is the highest. She has dismissed her entire
"family of origin," saying that they are all "in denial," and that she
has the only "reality" of her entire childhood and adolescence. She
has gained widespread acceptance as a "victim," and this will be hard
for her to give up.
We are reluctant to let her go, but perhaps we must come to the
realization that she may never return to us and to reality. Parents
who won and lost
_____________________________________________________________
10 Texas Psychiatrists Sue Ex-Patients Over Fraud Allegations
Holcomb Noble
The New York Times, February 24, 1995
Therapist Suits Against Patients
Ten Dallas psychiatrists who are under Federal investigation for
fraud have now filed suits against former patients in the latest
development in the largest health care fraud case in history. 67
former patients of Texas psychiatric hospitals operated by the
National Medical Enterprises (NME) had sued in 1992, claiming they had
received abusive treatment, including inappropriate restraints, and
were released only when their insurance ran out. In 1993, NME settled
the suits, agreeing to pay $15 million. Then in June 1994, Brookhaven
Psychiatric Pavilion, a division of NME pled guilty to Federal
criminal and civil charges, which included paying kickbacks to doctors
in return for patient referrals and paid a $379 million fine for
health care fraud.
The 10 psychiatrists now suing were connected with the Brookhaven
Psychiatric Pavilion, where 47 of the 67 complaining patients were
hospitalized. The 10 psychiatrists allege that they were defamed by
their former patients and that the NME corporation's conduct had
damaged them.
Some of the former patients now being sued had recently spoken at a
Congressional hearing on health care fraud and abuse. Normally, such
witnesses are granted immunity from legal action. The United States
Attorney's Office is investigating.
Lawyers for the former patients, many of whom were minors, have
suggested that the lawsuits are a way to intimidate people who
complained. Lawyers for the psychiatrists explained that the doctors
are "merely asserting claims for the damage that has been done based
on the untrue statements."
According to the article, "Lawsuits in the mental health field have
always been difficult and rare. Diagnoses are subjective to some
degree and psychiatrists are often unwilling to testify against one
another. In addition, former patients frequently encounter
presumptions or biases against them as reliable witnesses."
_____________________________________
Advocates dig in heels on files issue
London Free Press (Canada) January 9, 1995
Hank Daniszewski and Julle Carl
In Canada, at least one sexual assault center has shredded therapy
notes to avoid having them used in court. The representative of the
assault center claims that such notes are used to demoralize,
humiliate and discredit complainants. Lawyers for defendants say such
notes are needed to determine if the evidence is reliable.
The issue arose in the case of David Norman, 47, who was charged in
1992 with rape that allegedly took place in 1973. The complainant, now
33, said that she had blocked the incident from her memory until she
had therapy in 1987. Norman was found guilty in a trial and sentenced
to jail. He was released on bail pending his appeal after three days.
In 1993, the Ontario court of appeal overturned the conviction, saying
the evidence should have been more carefully scrutinized. In 1994,
however, the Crown decided to proceed with a second trial. In 1994,
the defense requested that the second trial be stayed because the
Crown could not produce records from the Nova Vita women's shelter
where the complainant had 200 to 300 counseling sessions. The director
of the center had destroyed the records.
____________________________________
Increase In 'False Memory' Insurance
Independent (London, England) February 12, 1995
Roger Dobson
The British Psychological Society is advising its members to take
out insurance to protect themselves against negligence claims from
clients, including allegations of planting false memories of child
abuse. So far 35 percent of members have signed up.
There is concern that claims are about to soar, as they have in the
USA. Among claims that have already been registered with insurers are
several concerning false memory syndrome - the planting of child abuse
fantasies during therapy. Other claims registered include allegations
of libel and slander, and charges of sexual impropriety.
Dr. Roger Litton is the insurance adviser for the society. He said
that psychologists "are very vulnerable because of the way they work."
_______________________________________________
Woman's Adultery Blamed On Multiple Personality
Philadelphia Inquirer February 9, 1995
Mark Chellgren
Toni Tenner, a woman in a Kentucky Supreme Court case, admitted that
her body had committed adultery. Her lawyer, Charles Brien said, "The
personality that considered herself married...had been 100 percent
faithful to the marriage." The one who cheated on her husband was
Andrea, one of her 13 personalities. Toni Tenner is still in therapy.
The case is about alimony. A trial court awarded Toni Tenner $500 a
month, but she appealed. As the case made its way to the Supreme
Court, Kentucky's Court of Appeals agreed with Toni Tenner and said
alimony payments should be increased because her mental illness
excused the affair.
In a dissenting opinion, Appeals Court Judge Anthony Wilhoit
criticized the new legal standard for fault "more in keeping with the
psychobabble prevalent on television talk shows than with sound
jurisprudence."
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| Therapists need to be humanitarian and scientific. Before we |
| subject patients to what we know "in our hearts," we need relevant |
| research in our minds. |
| Frank Pittman, M.D. |
| "Ask Dr. Frank" Psychology Today, Nov/Dec 1994 |
\____________________________________________________________________/
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COMMENT ON STEVEN LINDSAY'S COLUMN,
"Stop Child Sex Abuse AND Memory Recovery Therapy"
in the February FMSF Newsletter
Dear Dr. Lindsay:
I am one of the audience members at the recent conference in
Baltimore who was not just confused but quite upset by what you call
"prefatory remarks" about the "millions of people" victimized by
childhood sexual abuse in North America. In the February FMSF
Newsletter, you presented the justification for this statement and you
also suggested a new slogan for the Foundation: "Stop Child Sexual
Abuse AND Stop Memory Recovery Therapy."
I would like to deal with the latter issue first. In my opinion,
child sexual abuse and recovered memory therapy leading to false
memories and false accusations are two completely different issues.
They exist independently of each other, they neither enhance nor
negate each other, there is no causal connection between them. The
sexual abuse of children and the issue of influence in therapy
settings are two contemporary social problems; they are in the same
category as, for example, homelessness or high criminality. Since they
are not interrelated, there is neither inherent contradiction in
pursuing their elimination, nor is there need to pursue these goals
simultaneously. Therefore, adopting your slogan would lead to
confusion, to mixing two different issues that have to be dealt with
by separate groups and in separate ways. For that reason, I also
believe that the "prefatory remarks" in your otherwise outstanding
lecture were irrelevant.
Secondly, I would like to comment on the "millions" of victims of
sexual abuse in North America. Obviously, the number at which any
person arrives depends on his/her selection of the original source of
data, which, in turn, depends on the selected sample and on the biases
and agendas of the primary researcher. You opted for the 1983 study by
D.E.H. Russell, based on interviews of 930 women from the San
Francisco area. Other very different (much higher or much lower)
numbers could be obtained from other retrospective studies or from the
statistics on reported abuse at the time it happens. There are,
obviously, no reliable data on the incidence and prevalence of sexual
abuse, and indeed, no data are needed for condemnation of its
occurrence. Regardless whether sexual abuse occurs in one case in a
million or in one case in ten, it is deplorable and should be
eliminated. Unfortunately, inflated statistics lead to cynicism and
disbelief and does not do any good to the true abuse victims.
Moreover, statistics based on reported cases do show that many more
children are in life-threatening situation through neglect and
physical abuse than are sexually abused. In fact, many more children
die from neglect than from physical abuse or sexual abuse. Thus, the
efforts of society should be focused at elimination of neglect and
poverty in the first place.
P. T., Ph.D.
RESPONSE FROM DR. LINDSAY:
Dr. T. criticized the "prefatory remarks" presented in my
lecture at the Baltimore conference and reiterated in a recent
Newsletter article. Dr. T. argued that there is no relationship
between child sexual abuse (CSA) and memory recovery therapy (MRT),
and that therefore my prefatory comments were irrelevant. She also
took issue with my claim that there are millions of survivors of CSA
in North America.
The point of my prefatory remarks was precisely that concerns
about MRT and concerns about CSA are separate issues, such that there
is no contradiction in vigorously expressing both concerns. I do not
agree that the two issues are unrelated, nor with Dr. T.'s
suggestion that the relationship between the two is akin to that
between homelessness and crime. I think the relationship between MRT
and CSA is more akin to that between, say, lobotomies and mental
illness. Just as criticizing lobotomies in no way entails denial of
mental illness, criticizing MRT in no way entails denial of CSA. I
think it is very important that critics of MRT make this point very
clear, so that psychotherapists, social workers, public policy makers,
judges, et al. will not misconstrue criticisms of MRT and skepticism
regarding "recovered memories" as denial of the reality of CSA. Given
the long history of ignoring or minimizing the sexual abuse of
children in our culture, it is understandable that criticisms of MRT
are often misconstrued as yet another example of such denial, and it
is our responsibility to repeatedly and unambiguously clarify this
issue.
I stand by my claim that the best available evidence indicates
that there are millions of survivors of CSA in North America. It is
true that prevalence estimates vary widely from one study to another,
depending on sampling procedures, definitions of CSA, and details of
how responses were collected. Nonetheless, all of the large North
American retrospective self-report studies of which I am aware
reported estimates of at least several percent of the population for
quite narrow definitions of CSA (e.g., Finkelhor, Hotaling, Lewis, &
Smith's [1990], national random survey of 2,626 American men and women
found that 5% of the women reported CSA by age 18 years that involved
force). Retrospective self-report studies can be criticized on a
number of grounds, but in my view most such studies are more likely to
yield underestimates than overestimates; certainly there is near-
universal agreement that the number of cases officially documented
during childhood grossly underestimates prevalence.
I agree that exaggerating the prevalence of CSA is not helpful. I
also agree that neglect and physical abuse are tremendously important
social problems, and that an undue focus on CSA should not overshadow
them. On the other hand, minimizing CSA is also not helpful; although
I agree with Dr. T. that prevalence is irrelevant to the moral
condemnation of CSA (i.e., it is deplorable regardless of whether
there are dozens or millions of victims), prevalence does have
important implications for public policy and professional practice. So
what is needed, in my view, is a balanced and informed perspective
that neither exaggerates nor underestimates the prevalence and
importance of CSA.
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| Price list for the booklet |
| "Frequently Asked Questions" |
| Quantity Price per Packet |
| 1-4 $1.00 |
| 5-9 $0.90 |
| 10-19 $0.80 |
| 20-49 $0.65 |
| 50-100 $0.60 |
\____________________________________________________________________/
**********************************************************************
A RETRACTION IS ONLY A BEGINNING
A retraction is just a beginning. It takes tremendous courage. For
the person accused, a retraction may be the end of pain, but for the
retractor, it is a beginning. That became obvious to me last week when
I received a request from a retractor for 30 copies of "FMSF
Frequently Asked Questions" booklets. "Why so many?" I asked. This
person told me that she wanted to use them to help explain to her
family and others just what had happened to her. I had not thought of
that problem and wonder what other retractors have found to be helpful
to use or to say to explain their experience to others. Maybe you
could give me a call or drop me a note and let me know. Thank you.
Valerie, FMSF Receptionist
**********************************************************************
HYPNOSIS AND DELAYED RECALL
Co-Editors: Fred H. Frankel, M.R. Ch.B., D.P.M. and
Campbell W. Perry, Ph.D.
Special Issue in Two Parts of
The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
Part 1/Vol 42, No 4/ Oct, 94 / 240 pages
Part 2/ Vol 43, No 3 / April 95 / 256 pages
Single Issue: Individual $17.
TO ORDER: Sage Customer Service: 805-499-9774, Fax 805-499-0871
Part 2 Contents include: Report on Memories of Childhood Abuse /
Hypnosis, Childhood Trauma and Dissociative Identity Disorder/ On the
Belief That One Body May Be Host in Two or More Personalities/ Fantasy
Pronenss, Reported Childhood Abuse, and the Relevance of Reported
Abuse Onset / and many more
**********************************************************************
BILL HITS UNPROVEN MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENTS
Union Leader,
February 8, 1995
In New Hampshire, legislators grappled with the issue of recovered
memories. Representative Peter Wells introduced a bill that would
regulate therapists who use treatments to recover memories. "It's a
tell-the-truth bill," said Wells.
The bill requires therapists to show that patients were informed of
the risks and limitations of treatments in order to be reimbursed from
insurance companies or government health care programs. Patients could
continue receiving whatever treatment they wanted, but would have to
pay themselves if the treatments aren't proved scientifically or
accepted widely.
A spokesman for the New Hampshire Incest Center criticized the
bill's supporters as carrying out a vendetta against psychiatrists and
therapists. Advocates for victims expressed concern over the links
between the bill and out-of-state groups they said represent
perpetrators.
Wells sponsored the bill after a friend, Joel Hungerford, was
charged with raping his daughter decades ago. Last year Joel spent one
month in jail because his accusing daughter had a dream that he would
harm her.
**********************************************************************
MORE ABOUT PAIMI
Maryland - We received a letter from a family in Maryland saying
that Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness
(PAIMI) in that state had a very narrow focus. It is unlikely that
PAIMI would be of help to FMSF families. In addition, the staff is
extremely preoccupied at the moment because of expected federal
funding cuts.
Washington DC. The National Association of Protection & Advocacy
Systems that oversee PAIMI have noted that the President recommends
block grants for PAIMI, Mental Health Service Programs. Currently,
PAIMI is a $22 million program that provides grants to politically
independent agencies i each state to protect the rights of individuals
with mental illness under federal and state law and to investigate
allegations of abuse and neglect of individuals in state hospitals and
other residential and care and treatment facilities.
For those who would like additional information on the issues involved,
contact Matthew Summy at 202-408-9514.
Pennsylvania - "Why does the Mental Health Bill of Rights apply only
to patients in the hospital? Anyone who receives a diagnosis of
'mental disorder' as described by the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of the American Psychiatric Association ought to be entitled to
the same rights. If informed consent about treatment applies to
patients in a hospital, it should also apply to out-patients,
especially if the government or insurance is paying.
I wonder what relation there is between PAIMI and the National
Medical Enterprises scandal?"
A Mom
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| MENTAL HEALTH BILL OF RIGHTS |
| |
| * the right to an individualized, written treatment plan, |
| providing for periodic reassessment and revision; |
| |
| * the right to know the objectives of a treatment, the possible |
| adverse effects of treatment, and any available alternative |
| treatments, services and providers; |
| |
| * the right not to receive a mode or course of treatment in the |
| absence of informed, voluntary and written consent; |
| |
| * the right not to participate in experimentation in the absence |
| of informed, voluntary, written consent; |
| |
| * the right to appropriate protections in connection with one's |
| participation in an experimental treatment, including the right to |
| a reasonable explanation of the procedure to be followed, the |
| benefits to be expected, the relative advantages of alternative |
| treatments, and the potential discomforts and risks; |
| |
| * the right and opportunity to revoke one's consent to an |
| experimental treatment; |
\____________________________________________________________________/
**********************************************************************
WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO
* A young woman called the Foundation, questioning her memories. She
told us that the first suggestion of abuse was made to her by her
dance movement instructor. She was told that her movements were
typical of someone who had been abused.
* Another woman called and told us about her chiropractor who had
asked her if she had been sexually abused as a child. (She hadn't.)
She said that the chiropractor told her he suggested this because of
her reactions to some of his manipulations.
* University of Arkansas -- Continuing Education
April 18, 1995
A continuing education program that includes:
* A method for uncovering childhood wounds
* Suggestions for recovering memory
Brochure makes no mention of the AMA warning about recovered memories.
* A woman called, saying that she had been sexually assaulted at
work several years ago. About a year and a half later, she began
having panic attacks. She telephoned a therapist, telling him about
her problem. Over the phone, he told her that if she was having panic
attacks, she must have been sexually abused as a child.
**********************************************************************
to order tapes from
MEMORY AND REALITY CONFERENCE IN BALTIMORE,
December 1994
SEND ORDER WITH PAYMENT IN U.S. FUNDS TO
Aaron Video
6822 Parma Park Blvd
Parma Heights, OH 44130
216-243-2221
**********************************************************************
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| WHEN A PATIENT 'RECOVERS' MEMORIES OF ABUSE |
| Paul McHugh, MD, |
| Phipps Professor of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University |
| from "Clinical Psychiatry News" January 1995 |
| |
| Do Don't |
| |
| * Observe the memory's genesis. * Don't propose devices. Don't |
| Memories developed under hypnosis suggest repression is at play |
| are more questionable. or ask about alternate |
| personalities. |
| |
| * Consider the content and its * Don't provide suggestive |
| improbability. workbooks. |
| |
| * Seek confirmation of the memory. * Don't prescribe group |
| Talk to family members. attendance with verified incest |
| survivors. |
| |
| * Attend to accompanying * Don't encourage memory with |
| psychiatric syndromes. These hypnosis. |
| may explain memories. |
\____________________________________________________________________/
**********************************************************************
PIPER'S RESPONSE TO
"Johns Hopkins Meeting" by Colin A. Ross, M.D.
(Dr. August Piper Jr., M.D. is a member of the FMSF Advisory Board. He
is a psychiatrist in Seattle, Washington.)
Last month, Dr. Colin Ross submitted a report to the newsletter of
the FMS Foundation, as well as to that of the International Society
for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD). I was asked to respond to the
report; this response will also be submitted to both newsletters.
Knowing how to comment on the report was difficult. Though one
should not bite the hand holding an olive branch, the leaves' scent
and color and texture should not distract us: some of Dr. Ross's
comments are misleading and distorted. These problems aside, however,
Dr. Ross makes a courageous, praiseworthy effort to bridge the canyon
between the recovered- and false-memory camps. His assessment -- the
two movements need to talk -- is "just what the doctor ordered."
Dr. Ross calls for a scholarly and scientific discussion of the
problems that concern the two camps. There are at least two hallmarks
of this kind of approach. The first is that papers are published in
scholarly journals. Then, critical discussion of the merits and
deficiencies of those papers occurs between members of the two
groups. Dr. Ross's invitation to begin a discourse is most
welcome. However, the difficulty, I believe, is that the two movements
have not responded equally vigorously to the invitation.
By this I mean the following. The false-memory movement came into
being as a reaction to the beliefs and practices of recovered-memory
theoreticians and practitioners. Therefore, the movement initially had
to speak in response to an established theory. In so doing, it has now
generated its own body of knowledge, the weight of which severely
cracks the three foundation-stones of repressed-memory work:
recovered-memory therapy, multiple personality disorder, and treatment
for alleged victims of satanic ritual abuse. This body of research
deserves serious and scholarly responses from proponents, but despite
the stones' cracks, such responses are not yet in evidence.
Examples? On page eight of the September 1994 FMSF newsletter, a
list of 12 papers appeared. These studies directly and specifically
challenged one or another of the recovered-memory proponents' claims
(see Bibliography). My point: with one possible exception (see Notes),
I do not think any of these important papers have even been commented
on -- much less rebutted -- in the abuse-survivorship literature.
Now, this criticism is dangerous to make, because it requires
knowing every journal in which recovered-memory writings might appear:
obviously an impossible task. However, a more modest claim allows more
certainty: only one person from the other camp -- Dr. Ross -- has
attempted to rebut any of the arguments against multiple personality
disorder that have been made in several of my own papers (see
Notes). This regrettable tendency to simply ignore writings that raise
awkward questions is inconsistent with "an empirical and scientific
approach to complex problems."
A few other remarks about the report are in order. Dr. Ross says
that many FMSF members have attitudes toward him that are based on
rumor. This may be so. However, some concerns are grounded on his
written or spoken words. He has written, for example, that one per
cent of the entire population of the Canadian city of Winnipeg is
afflicted with MPD. He has written that more than five per cent of
general psychiatric patients are afflicted with MPD -- implying that
they have previously been misdiagnosed. And he has said on national
television that the US Central Intelligence Agency deliberately
attempted to cause patients to develop MPD.
Dr. Ross's report states that the DSM diagnosis of MPD does not
require adherence to a reported history of sexual abuse. This is true
-- but misleading. The DSM indeed requires no such history. However,
as Dr. Ross doubtlessly knows, the writings of leading MPD
theoreticians often contain statements such as the following: "No
therapist who has worked with more than two or three multiples doubts
the existence of a causal relationship between MPD and childhood
trauma, primarily child abuse" (Putnam); "MPD is generally considered
a specifically adaptive dynamic defensive response to overwhelming
trauma" (Putnam); "MPD is the most complex dissociative response to
severe childhood trauma;" (Ross).
The hand holding the olive branch should be seen as merely being
nibbled by the above comments, which, after all, are factual
statements.
In the next column, I will respond to some thoughtful letters that
you have sent.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bonanno: Remembering and psychotherapy. Psychotherapy 27:175-186,
1990. This paper nicely summarizes what is known about memory
processes in psychotherapy. Specifically, it criticizes the
attractive but simplistic notions that people accumulate memories like
so much videotaped material; that memories are fixed and unchangeable;
and that therapy is an effort to gain access to that hidden, pristine
material.
Dinwiddie and others: Multiple personality disorder: scientific and
medicollegal issues. Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry
and Law 21: 69-79, 1993. This thoughtful paper criticizes the common
practice of employing long symptom checklists, without specifying how
many positive responses are required to cross diagnostic
thresholds. This practice increases the number of false-positive
diagnoses.
Lanning: Ritual abuse: a law-enforcement view or perspective. Child
Abuse and Neglect 15: 171-173, 1991. This well-known paper, written by
an FBI investigator, concludes that in the United States, there is no
evidence whatsoever for the existence of a ring of satanists
responsible for huge numbers of murders and other ritual activities.
Mulhern: Satanism, ritual abuse, and multiple personality disorder: A
sociohistorical perspective. International Journal of Clinical and
Experimental Hypnosis 42:265-288, 1994. The author says that
unscientific "psychodemonology remains...oblivious to its own
irrational premises." A strongly-worded paper.
Pope and Hudson: Can memories of childhood sexual abuse be repressed?
Psychological Medicine (in press). The authors review the literature
pertaining to this question. They found no study that "provided both
clear confirmation of traumas as well as adequate documentation of
amnesia in their subjects. Thus, present clinical evidence is
insufficient to permit the conclusion that individuals can repress
memories of childhood sexual abuse."
Spanos: Multiple identity enactments and multiple personality
disorder; a sociocognitive perspective. Psychological Bulletin
116:143-165, 1994. This long, extensively-documented paper strongly
challenges the disease theory of MPD. It argues that the phenomena of
the condition are socially constructed.
Spence: Narrative truth and putative child abuse. International
Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis 42:289-303,
1994. "Regular rehearsal is necessary to preserve memories from long
ago; if not rehearsed, they tend to disappear." Thus, "we should be
particularly suspicious of the suddenly-appearing, highly-detailed
memory of child abuse that has been forgotten for 10, 30 or 40 years."
Weissberg M.: Multiple Personality Disorder and Itrogenesis: the
cautionary tale of Anna O. International Journal of Clinical and
Experimental Hypnosis 31:15-34, 1993. This study highlights the
vulnerability of MPD to iatrogenic creating by means of suggestion,
collusion, and other factors.
NOTES
An article by Read and Lindsay has been critiqued (Moving toward a
middle ground on the 'false memory debate': reply to commentaries on
Lindsay and Read. Applied Cognitive Psychology 8:407-435, 1994).
Piper: Multiple personality disorder: A review. British Journal of
Psychiatry 164:600-612, 1994.
Piper: Treatment for multiple personality disorder: At what cost?
American Journal of Psychotherapy 48:392-400, 1994.
Piper: Multiple personality disorder and criminal responsibility:
Critique of a paper by Elyn Saks. The Journal of Psychiatry and Law
22:7-49, 1994.
**********************************************************************
SIBLING'S RESPONSE TO
"Johns Hopkins Meeting" by Colin A. Ross, M.D.
While Dr. Ross may have done some soul searching in writing the
article, his statement simply isn't good enough. It does nothing to
ease the torment with which I've lived for seven years.
The time for accountability for the Great American Therapy Wreck is
NOW. For his part in the rampant negligent familicide, I encourage
Dr. Ross to make a million dollar contribution to help families whose
lives have been ruined. Some of the money could be set aside for the
erection of a monument in Washington, DC to the memory of families
shattered. This monument could be a powerful statement to future
generations that America doesn't need any more social hysterias.
**********************************************************************
OFSHE'S RESPONSE TO
"Johns Hopkins Meeting" by Colin A. Ross, M.D.
(Richard Ofshe, Ph.D. and Colin Ross, M.D. spent many hours discussing
issues of Recovered Memory Therapy during the Baltimore conference. We
asked Dr. Ofshe to respond to the column by Dr. Ross in the February
newsletter. - Ed.)
Colin Ross' comments in the February newsletter are susceptible to
numerous interpretations and constructive criticisms. One point worth
making relates to the quality of his analysis and another to a
hypothesis suggested by Dr. Ross' work, certain comments in his letter
and my interaction with him at the Baltimore conference.
Dr. Ross cites certain similarities between his observations at the
Baltimore conference and and ISSD meetings. He seems to be saying that
the differences between the two group are not so great. Unfortunately
Dr. Ross' point is silly because he fails to distinguish between: the
organizational aspects of group life (social arrangements and
interaction characteristics - diversity of opinion, interaction
styles, etc.) that are present whenever human groups interact; and the
substance of the collective task that brings the two groups together
(the content of what group members are saying to one another).
Dr. Ross thereby winds up celebrating the trivial and ultimately
producing a banal commentary.
The logic of Dr. Ross' comment would allow one to suggest that
because they held meetings and made decisions there was not much
difference between the group that assembled to plan the Nuremberg
rallies and the group that convened to plan the Nuremberg trials.
Dr. Ross makes two other points: "The problem is not the existence
of false memories as such, it is how they are managed and handled in
therapy;" and "the key variable of mutual interest should be impaired
professionals and bad therapies."
The first comment is simply wrong. The fundamental problem is
precisely that of false or valid memories and how they came into
existence. Implicit in Dr. Ross' comment is the idea that the
therapist either manages well or poorly "memories" presented by the
patient. Dr. Ross' failure to notice that accounts of the careers of
recovered memory patients indicate that it is through the guidance and
direction of their therapists that patients develop their
visualizations, label them as memories and learn to role-play whatever
version of DID the therapist advocates.
One is forced to wonder where Dr. Ross' consciousness has been for
the past few years. There are three recent books on this problem that
he might wish to study in order to begin his education about patient
conformity to therapists' pressures and influences. I believe that he
figures in one or two of them.
Finally, Dr. Ross suggests that impaired professionals should be a
point of mutual interest between ISSD and the False Memory Syndrome
Foundation. Writing-off the recovered memory epidemic as a problem
attributable only to impaired professionals is similar to the fantasy
of blaming patients for supposedly handing therapists fully formed
memories to manage well or badly.
Rather than blaming a few (no doubt) impaired professionals as
Dr. Ross proposes, those of us concerned with this wasteful tragedy
need to look deeper for the causation of the problem. I believe that
any basic description of the problem must involve recognition that an
unfounded innovation has unfortunately taken hold among a portion of
the mental health professional community. It was foundationless when
it began and remains so today. The professions should have recognized
it as dangerous and those who advocated it should have been required
to prove its validity before being allowed to inflict it on their
patients. If there is an impairment, it is organizational and involves
insufficient training and rigor among practitioners and an
insufficiently developed set of standards to prevent practitioners
from being reckless with patients' fate.
To return to the topic of where Dr. Ross' consciousness has been for
the past few years, has he forgotten that he circulated a prospectus
for a book to be completed by July of 1994 on the topic of CIA Mind
Control? According to the prospectus:
Dr. Ross has treated people who report systematic mind control and
programming done to them on military bases and at civilian locations
throughout the United States...
The information revealed in therapy is very detailed and includes
the identification of specific doctors, control agents, military
bases, surveillance operations access codes and the dates of phone
calls from CIA personnel who call out programmed alter personalities
over the phone.
This book will describe the clinical features and treatment of these
victims, who probably number in the thousands or tens of thousands.
In my conversation with Dr. Ross at the Baltimore conference he made
light of the "Fifth Estate" (Canadian Broadcasting Company)
documentary in which he is shown surrounded by needy MPD patients and
he proceeded to have a conversation with an alter known as the devil.
When I asked Dr. Ross about the malpractice suit brought against him
by Roma Hart, he declined to discuss the truth or falsity of the
allegations she makes about the history of his treatment of her and
tried to suggest that she was unreliable as a reporter of the events
of her life.
If I agreed with Dr. Ross about impaired professionals and if I
engaged in diagnosis at all, or from afar (as he does in his writing
that Anne Sexton was an undiagnosed MPD), I might consider the
possibility that Dr. Ross has dissociated his track record and
developed an alter personality called "middle-of-the-wrong-road." But
since I find neither the idea nor the practice appealing, I'll stick
with the position that his comment badly misses the mark. He seems
not to have noticed that there is a matter of substance at issue --
the misuse of influence by therapists and the impact this has on the
lives of patients.
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| CORRECTION |
| |
| January Newsletter - page 10., The Samaritan Institute of Colorado |
| has told us that it has complained to the Samaritan Counseling |
| Center in Scottsdale, AZ that their name is a copyright violation. |
\____________________________________________________________________/
**********************************************************************
RETRACTORS' CORNER
__________________________
In Honor Of A Mom Who Died
by her Friend, a Retractor
This message is for accusers. It is for those who believe that
"recovered memories" are true memories of sexual abuse and not
visualizations or brain events. By "recovered memories" I restrict
the meaning to the kind of memories of abuse that you never knew --
not even an inkling -- until you went into therapy, or read a book.
A mom died this week. She'd been accused of SRA and other horrible
things. She longed to see her daughter, to sit and chat like they had
in the past. She talked of how bright this daughter was, yet how the
girl could not use rational reason. It had escaped the girl when the
irrational "memories" brain events started appearing. She clung to
the hope that there would be a future with her daughter. She fought in
the arena of stopping this kind of therapy, trying to protect future
daughters and sons from being destroyed. And she prayed to the ending
of her loss, her pain, the heartache of a mother yearning for her loss
child.
But as fate would have it, she lost that battle -- the battle to see
her child once more. She lost the battle to reach out and hold her
like she had so many times when the girl was small and would came
running to mom to fix the boo boo's of the world.
I have heartache for this girl, whereever she may be. For she is
truly lost. She doesn't know it. Does she not see, nor feel the pain
of anyone else, only the pain she has been made to believe happened to
her. Does she cry out now knowing her mother is dead, or does she feel
satisfaction that the believed abuser is gone? Oh lost child that she
is, when she awakes from her nightmare and joins the world of reality
again, how she will grieve forever more. Oh daughters/sons, time is
ticking for all of you.
What if, Oh just for a moment think, What if, the "memories" are not
memories of truth after all? Think how you came to believe you'd been
abused in the first place. Find the moment you started thinking about
it. Find the moment the first glimmer came. How did it come about? A
suggestion? A book you read? A symptom you have that is from a list?
What were your memories of your family before the "memories" of sexual
abuse? How did you feel toward your parents before the "memories" of
sexual abuse? Daughters/sons what will you do if the time is too late
before you know and your mom and dad are gone from you forever more?
This mother lost her child and a child out there is lost from her
mother forever. Cry for the child all you who believe in the truth
about "repressed memories". Cry for your sons and daughters, because
someday it just may happen to you, unless this stops.
I was once one or those lost daughters.
_____________________
Retracting Therapists
Where is there a place for retracting therapists? At the Baltimore
conference, a young woman, "Joan," whose sister had accused her
parents told us that during one of the lectures, the woman sitting in
front of her was quietly weeping throughout the entire talk. The two
younger women on either side of her tried to comfort her. "Joan" said
that she finally put her hand out and asked the woman whether she was
an accused mom. The woman looked at her sadly and said, "No, I'm a
retracting therapist. These are two of my clients."
_______________________
A Newsletter of Our Own
Retractors have invaluable experience. Families tell us that we are
a source of hope and a link to their children. They wait eagerly to
hear from us. I have found for myself that it has been helpful for me
to be active, to work with families and to receive their support and
encouragement. It is helping to give this nightmare some meaningful
purpose. The Retractor's Corner is a safe, anonymous and yet personal
way for us to share our experience and insights with families. Thank
you FMSF for putting it together for us.
In Baltimore, however, many of us shared our desire to have a
newsletter of our own. We felt that it would improve our ability to
network as a group and provide a source of support that many of us
don't have. At the conference, we had a volunteer ready to begin this
project but, unfortunately, she received a directive from her lawyer
that it would not be possible. So, for now, I will take over this
effort. I would love to hear from any of you who would like to
contribute in any way. I am not a journalist, but I am dedicated. If
you would like to receive a subscription (inexpensive and
confidential) or would like more information, please contact me: Diana
Anderson at the FMSF Office.
**********************************************************************
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
This is a column that will let you know what people are doing to
counteract the harm done by FMS. Remember that three years ago FMSF
didn't exist. A group of 50 or so people found each other and today we
are over 15,000. Together we have made a difference. How did this
happen?
Wisconsin Sanai Samaritan Medical Center, Milwaukee, Department of
Psychiatry, presented Grand Rounds in January on "Forensic Psychiatric
Issues in False Memory Syndrome." Thomas Guthiel, M.D. Professor of
Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Co-Director, Program in
Psychiatry and the Law, Massachusetts Mental Health Center was the
presenter. This excellent program was attended by over 200
professionals including FMS families. Families and professionals in
other places in the country might try to interest their local
hospitals and medical centers in presenting such programs.(The newly
formed Speakers Bureau at the FMSF Office can help organizations
locate qualified presenters.)
Colorado Pastor Ed Bulkey has a radio call-in show, "Return to the
Word" 800-468-6577, from the Christian viewpoint. In January he
devoted five, one-hour shows to False Memory Syndrome. His guests
included Paul Simpson, Ed.D and Mr. and Mrs. Grady. Some FMS families
called in and were most effective in sharing their experiences. The
shows are available on tape. It is very difficult as a parent to call
in, but the effect is tremendous. All you do is pick up the phone,
take a deep breath and talk...
Missouri FMS families had a special meeting for legislators and
Health professionals. Special guests were B. Cooper, aide to Rep Jim
Talent, E. Pribor, MD, President of Eastern Missqouri Psychiatric
Society, and Carol North, M.D., Washington University Department of
Psychiatry. A special effort was initiated to have legislators and
therapists attend so that they can learn about the how FMS has
affected families.
Missouri is planning a special meeting on March 19 for siblings of
people with FMS. Siblings are in a unique position, torn between
parents and brothers and sisters. Many times they are the only line of
communication open to lost children. As such, they confront a special
set of problems and opportunities. Involving and educating the
siblings will hopefully make an easier road home possible for our
loved ones.
Washington. Persistence Does Pay Off!! After 2 1/2 years of
writing, calling, etc, the Noah family and friends have won a
victory. The therapist who treated their daughter has been charged by
the Department of Health with negligence and incompetence. You may be
interested to know that the credentials the therapist had were
recently acquired by Chuck Noah for $78.50 and 4 hours of AIDS study.
The State of Washington is the first state to bring action against a
therapist relating to False Memory Syndrome and Satanic Ritual
Abuse. Dolores E. Spice, the Executive Director of Health Counselors,
was one of many in the state who helped to bring this about.
Washington. In Spokane the Paul Ingram "Right to a Fain Trial"
organization, P.O. Box 7465 continues to work for a pardon if there is
no new trial and investigation. The group has generated over 1000 post
cards and letters on Paul's behalf and they hope that more people will
write. Letter writing campaigns are very effective. It doesn't cost
much - just a stamp and a bit of time. Even if one letter doesn't
change things, it informs and educates and that is what we are all
about.
You can make a difference. Please send me any ideas that you have
had that were or might be successful so that we can tell others. Write
to Katie Spanuello c/o FMSF.
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| WORKING TOGETHER |
| |
| Often at meetings in New England, people complain, out of |
| frustration, that their own personal problem is not being |
| addressed by the group, that their daughters or sons are no closer |
| to coming back to the family. It's hard not to take what so deeply |
| affects oneself in other than a very personal way. But in order to |
| win out, in the long run, we must realize that the greater good |
| for all our families, now and in the future, is to defeat the |
| entire destructive force that locks so many in its web of lies and |
| deceit. Who knows what will cause the light to dawn for our |
| children, or where, or when? We need to work together to maintain |
| the flow of truth that eventually will make the difference. |
| Frank Kane |
\____________________________________________________________________/
**********************************************************************
FROM OUR READERS
____________________
The Meeting Was Fine
We have been caught up for several years in the "recovered memory"
of our now 33-year old daughter. Our life has been a living hell. As
we approached retirement, we prayed we would not lose our savings and
home in a court battle.
Now our daughter, who had never lost contact with her siblings, has
returned. She wrote and asked to come home. She requested that if we
had any hard comments to make that we make them in writing so that the
trip, with her family, could be pleasant. We promptly replied that we
had no wish to dredge up anything, but that we would like to start
from here renewing our relationship. I had worried that our son-in-law
might still be estranged, but he was the same old person we knew and
loved. We do not know what has changed her mind, or where she is. We
only know that the meeting went fine.
A Mom and Dad
____________________
Epidemic Proportions
As has been said so often, it is a hysteria of epidemic
proportions. I have a brother-in-law, recently deceased, who has been
falsely accused. Happily my sister, his two sons, and his other
daughter stayed staunchly with him. But it must have been dreadful for
him to have died with no resolution with his accusing daughter. There
is also the brother-in-law of a close friend of mine who was similarly
accused. Fortunately his daughter included satanic ritual -- the
buried, butchered dogs could not be found. Three years ago, my
youngest daughter charged me with having raped her when she was 18
months old. It is incredible that she could have recalled the horror
in some detail, except that she had undergone hypnosis for 5
months. The 'therapist' is an MSW under no supervision. She would not
check records of any sort nor would she talk with me or my wife.
A Dad
________________
Mothers' Stories
I am a mother who would like to collect stories from other mothers
who, like me, have become involved in the long-delayed charges of
incest between husband and daughter. Except in the pages of this
newsletter, our personal histories as participants in this tragic
drama are often overlooked, or still worse, revised by others into
stories we no longer recognize. We deserve to tell our own stories,
and to a wider audience. It is my hope that such a collection might
help ease the pain for other mothers in this situation by allowing
them to realize that they are not alone. Our stories might also lead
outsiders to greater empathy through a better understanding of what it
has meant to us, as young mothers of the fifties, to be confronted
with such traumatic charges from our own daughters. To my
astonishment, I have learned that the blame for these alleged events
is often laid at the feet of the mother. How can this be?
Please call me or leave a message at 503-563-3615 to discuss sharing
your story for possible publication. I promise to preserve your
privacy and protect your identity.
A Mom
_______________
Stuck on a Limb
"I think my son has gotten stuck on a limb and is now uncomfortable
to be there, but not sure how to get off. A part of me thinks he needs
to fact what he did and why he did it and change his view of his past
and me. Another part wants to help him, let him slide back into
contact and relating. I worry about what another layer of "let's
pretend" will do."
A Mom
________________________
Letter from a Grandchild
My grandfather is accused, which seems absolutely outrageous to me
because I have always thought of my grandfather as my hero. However
the accuser, my aunt, was my idol. I wanted to look just like her and
be just like her in almost every way. In 1990, my aunt accused my
grandfather of a lot of things. At the time it upset me but I didn't
think it was serious. I thought it was her way of making her marriage
work since she was having troubles with her husband. My aunt proceeded
to try and ruin my grandparents' lives and her husband proceeded to
leave her. Things got worse, not better. Now my other aunts and two
uncles hardly ever talk to their sister. In fact, my mother is the
only one who really keeps in touch with my aunt and that is only
because she has always kept the peace in the family. It is through my
mother that my grandparents have any information at all about how
their accusing daughter is doing.
Because I am a granddaughter and not one of the siblings you may
think that I don't really know what is going on but I do. I am 19
years old and am married. I could never imagine how my aunt came up
with stuff about my grandfather. Now out of six children, she and her
twin brother being in the middle, she is the only one that thinks she
remembers this stuff. I have lost respect for my aunt and in fact, I
can't stand her. I wonder sometimes if she ever thinks about how
everyone else feels about this. Probably not. According to her, we
were all in denial about it.
My grandparents tell me to forgive her because she is sick. Well,
she has to apologize for turning my family upside down and hurting
everyone. My aunt told me when she started this that if I was afraid
to come forward but knew something, then she would protect me. I will
never forgive her for saying that. She knows she is lying and so do
I.
My grandparents are handling this in the wrong way. They are letting
my aunt control their lives and that really upsets me. I know they are
hurting but she's not their only child. She brought this on
herself. My aunt told my grandparents not to write or get in touch
with her or her children so they are afraid to try to make contact. My
grandmother is afraid to send my aunt any of the false memory
information because she doesn't want to upset her. Well, I say that
they should do what they want to because they can't spend the rest of
their lives walking on eggshells because they are afraid of upsetting
her. I wish that they would either try to make up or to get on with
their lives. They should stop worrying about what my aunt would think.
I am very close to my family and I love them all a lot. I really am
worried about my grandparents and I wish they could be as happy as
they were. I don't really want them to forget my aunt. I just want
things to be easier for them.
I guess what I am trying to say is, "Don't forget about the kids of
your kids. They know what's going on and they are all affected. Trust
me, it hurts me to see what's going on. Love all of your kids but
don't let this take over your life."
Thanks for listening.
A Granddaughter
_______________________________________________________________
I am both a falsely accused parent and a retractor. I went to a
psychologist after my son accused me of acts I did not do. I also went
to psychiatrist who specialized in hypnotherapy and Multiple
Personality Disroder. I was helped to believe I had been victimized by
my father and was therefore likely to have done what my son has
suddenly begun remembering in therapy. My ex-wife died about a month
after being accused of being an "enabler."
A Dad
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| The FMSF Newsletter is now available for the blind on audio tape. |
| If you know anyone who has need of this service, please contact |
| the office. |
\____________________________________________________________________/
**********************************************************************
Dear FMSF,
Thank you for your letter. In it you asked if I had any suggestions
on how to help the FMSF membership get out of the despondent state
that many are in. That's a tough order but I do have one suggestion
that I think has merit: I would solicit brief written descriptions
from all members on how they have learned to cope with the aftermath
of the accusations. We don't want them to discuss the accusations but
merely to tell what they have done within themselves to cope with
these senseless happenings. Here is my letter.
"The accusations were made by letter that left my wife and me in a
state of shock and disbelief. We meticulously verified that the
accusations were false or gross distortions of what actually
happened. We wrote her seeking further discussion. No response. This
overwhelmed my mind - I thought about it 1,000 times a day. My
thinking made me realize that I had to make some sense out of this
senseless happening or my mind would just run in concentric circles
seeking answers. I wrote a personality profile of my daughter. I
reviewed all of the happenings up to receipt of her letter. I thought
of every conceivable explanation. I wrote it all down and rewrote it
many times. The story that emerged had to be accurate, comprehensive
and plausible. I'm not happy with that story but I am satisfied with
it and my mind has ceased to churn seeking answers. The story
describes a daughter who has serious personal and personality problems
that she has been unable to resolve. With the help of a book and a
therapist she has chosen to blame her parents for all of her
problems. She is not really concerned with the truth of her
accusations. She needs to be a victim to explain the way she is. It's
that simple."
How can writing something help? (1) It can help a person straighten
out his or her thinking. Reading the thought processes of others can
broaden one's outlook. (2) It is important to get people to stop
looking at the accusations themselves and start looking through
them. If they are not true, why were they made? What is behind all of
this? (3) Finally, it may help some in this war of words and
accusations to stop being totally defensive and put the accusers on
the defensive.
I hope that this is helpful to other families.
A Dad
Editors Note: We agree. Please send us stories of how you have coped.
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| Does the FMSF volunteer contact in your state know who you are? |
| Keep up with local events. Call your contact to be sure he or she |
| has your name and phone number. |
\____________________________________________________________________/
**********************************************************************
MARCH 1995 FMSF MEETINGS
FAMILIES, RETRACTORS & PROFESSIONALS WORKING TOGETHER
======================================================
STATE MEETINGS
ARIZONA - tempe
Saturday, March 18 - 10:30 am - lunch - to 4 pm
Embassy Suites Hotel
Guest Speaker: Mark Pendergrast
author,Victims of Memory:
Incest Accusations and Shattered Lives
Barbara (602) 924-0975
INDIANA - indianapolis
Sunday, April 23, 1:00 - 4:30 pm
Nickie (317) 471-0922 (phone); 334-9839 (fax)
Gene (317) 861-4720 or 861-5832
MINNESOTA - MINNEAPOLIS AREA
Saturday, April 1 - begins 9 am
Terry & Collette (507) 642-3630
Dan & Joan (612) 631-2247
PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, DELAWARE
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA
Saturday, March 25 - 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sheraton Convention Center
Call Jim & JoAnne (610) 783-0396
=======================================
UNITED STATES
Call person listed for meeting time & location.
key: (MO) = monthly; (bi-MO) = bi-monthly
=======================================
ARIZONA - Tempe
See State Meetings list
ARKANSAS - Little Rock
Al & Lela (501) 363-4368
CALIFORNIA
Northern California
San Francisco & Bay Area (Bi-MO)
East Bay Area
Judy (510) 254-2605
San Francisco & North Bay
Gideon (415) 389-0254
Charles (415) 984-6626 (day); 435-9618 (eve)
South Bay Area
Jack & Pat (408) 425-1430
Last Saturday, (Bi-MO)
Central Coast
Carole (805) 967-8058
Southern California
Burbank (formerly Valencia)
Jane & Mark (805) 947-4376
4th Saturday (MO)10:00 am
central orange county
Chris & Alan (714) 733-2925
1st Friday (MO) - 7:00 pm
Orange County (formerly Laguna Beach)
Jerry & Eileen (714) 494-9704
3rd Sunday (MO) - 6:00 pm
Covina Group (formerly Rancho Cucamonga )
Floyd & Libby (818) 330-2321
1st Monday, (MO) - 7:30 pm
West Orange County
Carole (310) 596-8048
2nd Saturday (MO)
COLORADO - Denver
Ruth (303) 757-3622
4th Saturday, (MO)1:00 pm
CONNECTICUT - New Haven area
George (203) 243-2740
FLORIDA
Dade-Broward Area
Madeline (305) 966-4FMS
Delray Beach PRT
Esther (407) 364-8290
2nd & 4th Thursday [MO] 1:00 pm
Tampa Bay Area
Bob & Janet (813) 856-7091
ILLINOIS
Chicago metro area (South of the Eisenhower)
Roger (708) 366-3717
2nd Sunday [MO] 2:00 pm
INDIANA - Indianapolis area
Nickie (317) 471-0922 (phone); 334-9839 (fax)
Gene (317) 861-4720 or 861-5832
See State Meetings list
IOWA - Des Moines
Betty & Gayle (515) 270-6976
2nd Saturday (MO) 11:30 am Lunch
KANSAS - Kansas City
Pat (913) 738-4840 or Jan (816) 931-1340
Sunday, April 2 (MO)
KENTUCKY
Lexington - Dixie (606) 356-9309
Louisville - Bob (502) 957-2378
Last Sunday (MO) 2:00 pm
MAINE - Area code 207
Bangor - Irvine & Arlene 942-8473
Freeport - Wally 865-4044
3rd Sunday (MO)
Yarmouth - Betsy 846-4268
MARYLAND - Ellicot City area
Margie (410) 750-8694
MASSACHUSETTS / NEW ENGLAND
Chelmsford
Jean (508) 250-1055
MICHIGAN - Grand Rapids Area - Jenison
Catharine (616) 363-1354
2nd Monday (MO)
MINNESOTA - Minneapolis Area
Terry & Collette (507) 642-3630
Dan & Joan (612) 631-2247
See State Meetings list
MISSOURI
Kansas City
Pat (913) 738-4840 or Jan (816) 931-1340
2nd Sunday (MO)
St. Louis area
Karen (314) 432-8789 or Mae (314) 837-1976
3rd Sunday [MO]1:30 pm
Retractors support group also meeting.
Springfield - Area Codes 417 and 501
Dorothy & Pete (417) 882-1821
4th Sunday [MO] 5:30 pm
NEW JERSEY (So.) See State Meetings list
NEW YORK
Downstate NY - Westchester, Rockland & others Barbara (914) 761-3627 - call
for bi-MO meeting info
4th Sunday, March 26, 1995 in lower Connecticut
Upstate / Albany area
Elaine (518) 399-5749
Family group meets bi-monthly
Sunday, March 19, 2-5 pm
Western / Rochester area
George & Eileen (716) 586-7942
March 12, 1995 - 1:15 pm
OHIO - Cincinnati
Bob (513) 541-5272
2nd Sunday (MO) 2:00-4:30 pm
OKLAHOMA - Area code 405
Oklahoma City
Len 364-4063 Dee 942-0531
HJ 755-3816 Rosemary 439-2459
PENNSYLVANIA
Harrisburg area
Paul & Betty (717) 691-7660
Pittsburgh
Rick & Renee (412) 563-5616
Wayne (includes So. Jersey)
Jim & Joanne (610) 783-0396
See State Meetings list
TENNESSEE - Middle Tennessee
Kate (615) 665-1160
1st Wedmesday (MO) 1:00 pm
TEXAS
Central Texas
Nancy & Jim (512) 478-8395
Dallas/Ft. Worth
Lee & Jean (214) 279-0250
Houston
Jo or Beverly (713) 464-8970
VERMONT - Burlington Area
Kim (802) 878-1089
Tuesday, March 28 (Bi-MO) 7-9 pm
WISCONSIN
Katie & Leo (414) 476-0285
=======================================
CANADA
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Vancouver & Mainland
Ruth (604) 925-1539
Last Saturday (MO) 1:00-4:00 pm
Victoria & Vancouver Island
John (604) 721-3219
3rd Tuesday (MO) 7:30 pm
MANITOBA
Winnipeg
Muriel (204) 261-0212
Call for meeting information
ONTARIO
Ottawa
Eileen (613) 836-3294
Toronto - North York
Pat (416) 444-9078
Saturday, February 18 (Bi-MO) 1-3 pm
Studio 4, Civic Garden Ctr, 777 Lawrence St-East
ANNUAL MEETING - TORONTO, ONTARIO
Saturday, April 22, 1995, 1-5 pm
Holiday Inn, Warden Ave (South from 401)
Pat (416) 444-9078
=======================================
AUSTRALIA
Ken & June, P O Box 363, Unley, SA 5061
NETHERLANDS
Task Force False Memory Syndrome of
Ouders voor Kinderen
Mrs. Anna de Jong, (0) 20-693 5692
NEW ZEALAND
Mrs. Colleen Waugh, (09) 416-7443
UNITED KINGDOM
The British False Memory Society
Roger Scotford (0225) 868-682
+++
Deadline for APRIL1995 Issue:
Wed., March 22nd (Attn: Nancy, c/o FMSF)
Send notice 2 months before scheduled meeting
**********************************************************************
WHAT IF?
What if, parents who are facing lawsuits and want legal information
about FMS cases, had to be told, "I'm sorry, there isn't any such
thing available?"
What if, your son or daughter began to doubt his or her memories and
called FMSF only to get a recording, "This number is no longer in
operation?"
What if, a journalist asks you where to get information about the
FMS phenomenon, and you had to answer, "Sorry, I don't know?"
What if, you want to ask a question that only an expert, familiar
with FMS can answer, and find out that FMSF can no longer provide that
information? Where would you turn?
What if the False Memory Syndrome Foundation did not exist? A
frightening thought, isn't it?
Please support our Foundation. We cannot survive without your
support!
Reprinted from the August 1994 PFA (MI) Newsletter
**********************************************************************
Yearly FMSF Membership Information
Professional - Includes Newsletter $125______
Family - Includes Newsletter $100______
Additional Contribution: _____________
__Visa: Card # & expiration date:______________________________
__Mastercard: Card # & expiration date:______________________________
__Check or Money Order: Payable to FMS Foundation in U.S. dollars
Please include: Name, address, state, country, phone, fax
______________________________SIDEBAR_______________________________
/ \
| Do you have access to e-mail? Send a message to |
| pjf@cis.upenn.edu |
| if you wish to receive electronic versions of this newsletter and |
| notices of radio and television broadcasts about FMS. All the |
| message need say is "add to the FMS list". It would be useful, but |
| not necessary, if you add your full name (all addresses and names |
| will remain strictly confidential). |
\____________________________________________________________________/
**********************************************************************
The False Memory Syndrome Foundation is a qualified 501(c)3 corpora-
tion with its principal offices in Philadelphia and governed by its
Board of Directors. While it encourages participation by its members
in its activities, it must be understood that the Foundation has no
affiliates and that no other organization or person is authorized to
speak for the Foundation without the prior written approval of the Ex-
ecutive Director. All membership dues and contributions to the Founda-
tion must be forwarded to the Foundation for its disposition.
**********************************************************************
3401 Market Street suite 130, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (215-387-1865)
This address and the phone numbers have changed as of July 15, 2000
Pamela Freyd, Ph.D., Executive Director
FMSF Scientific and Professional Advisory Board, March 1, 1995:
TERENCE W. CAMPBELL, Ph.D., Clinical and Forensic Psychology,
Sterling Heights, MI; ROSALIND CARTWRIGHT, Rush Presbyterian St. Lukes
Medical Center, Chicago, IL; JEAN CHAPMAN, Ph.D., University of
Wisconsin, Madison, WI; LOREN CHAPMAN, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin,
Madison, WI; FREDERICK C. CREWS, Ph.D., University of California,
Berkeley, CA; ROBYN M. DAWES, Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University,
Pittsburgh, PA; DAVID F. DINGES, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania,
The Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA; HENRY
C. ELLIS, Ph.D., University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM; FRED
FRANKEL, M.B.Ch.B., D.P.M., Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, MA; GEORGE K. GANAWAY, M.D., Emory University of
Medicine, Atlanta, GA; MARTIN GARDNER, Author, Hendersonville, NC;
ROCHEL GELMAN, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, CA; HENRY
GLEITMAN, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; LILA
GLEITMAN, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; RICHARD
GREEN, M.D., J.D., Charing Cross Hospital, London; DAVID A. HALPERIN,
M.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY; ERNEST HILGARD,
Ph.D., Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA; JOHN HOCHMAN, M.D., UCLA
Medical School, Los Angeles, CA; DAVID S. HOLMES, Ph.D., University
of Kansas, Lawrence, KS; PHILIP S. HOLZMAN, Ph.D., Harvard
University, Cambridge, MA; JOHN KIHLSTROM, Ph.D., Yale University, New
Haven, CT; HAROLD LIEF, M.D., University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, PA; ELIZABETH LOFTUS, Ph.D., University of Washington,
Seattle, WA; PAUL McHUGH, M.D., Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore,
MD; HAROLD MERSKEY, D.M., University of Western Ontario, London,
Canada; ULRIC NEISSER, Ph.D., Emory University, Atlanta, GA; RICHARD
OFSHE, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, CA; MARTIN ORNE,
M.D., Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, The Institute of Pennsylvania
Hospital, Philadelphia, PA; LOREN PANKRATZ, Ph.D., Oregon Health
Sciences University, Portland, OR; CAMPBELL PERRY, Ph.D., Concordia
University, Montreal, Canada; MICHAEL A. PERSINGER, Ph.D., Laurentian
University, Ontario, Canada; AUGUST T. PIPER, Jr., M.D., Seattle, WA;
HARRISON POPE, Jr., M.D., Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; JAMES
RANDI, Author and Magician, Plantation, FL; CAROLYN SAARI, Ph.D.,
Loyola University, Chicago, IL; THEODORE SARBIN, Ph.D., University of
California, Santa Cruz, CA; THOMAS A. SEBEOK, Ph.D., Indiana
Univeristy, Bloomington, IN; LOUISE SHOEMAKER, Ph.D., University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; MARGARET SINGER, Ph.D., University of
California, Berkeley, CA; RALPH SLOVENKO, J.D., Ph.D., Wayne State
University Law School, Detroit, MI; DONALD SPENCE, Ph.D., Robert Wood
Johnson Medical Center, Piscataway, NJ; JEFFREY VICTOR, Ph.D.,
Jamestown Community College, Jamestown, NY; HOLLIDA WAKEFIELD, M.A.,
Institute of Psychological Therapies, Northfield, MN; LOUIS JOLYON
WEST, M.D., UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA.