title: Crisis or creation?a systematic examination of "false memory syndrome".
abstract: In 1992, the False Memory Syndrome Foundation (FMSF), an advocacy organization for people claiming to be falsely accused of sexual abuse, announced the discovery of a new syndrome involving iatrogenically created false memories of childhood sexual abuse. This article critically examines the assumptions underlying &#0147;False Memory Syndrome&#0148; to determine whether there is sufficient empirical evidence to support it as a valid diagnostic construct. Epidemiological evidence is also examined to determine whether there is data to support its advocates' claim of a public health crisis or epidemic. A review of the relevant literature demonstrates that the existence of such a syndrome lacks general acceptance in the mental health field, and that the construct is based on a series of faulty assumptions, many of which have been scientifically disproven. There is a similar lack of empirical validation for claims of a &#0147;false memory&#0148; epidemic. It is concluded that in the absence of any substantive scientific support, &#0147;False Memory Syndrome&#0148; is best characterized as a pseudoscientific syndrome that was developed to defend against claims of child abuse.
authors.affiliation: , Cynwyd, PA, 19004, sjd.scout@worldnet.att.net.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Dallam