Do No Harm: Q&A with Paul McHugh

Author of “Try to Remember”

Comments

In response to Daniel Kupper and Neil Brick
Sarah Ponto

6/18/2013 8:00:03 AM

I understand that Mr. Kupper and Mr. Brick commented years ago, but I believe it only right that their words not be the last on this Q&A. Daniel Kupper, you obviously did not read Dr. McHugh's book. You really should read it, no matter if you agree with him or not reading it will bring strength to your argument and pose as something compelling to discuss. If you would have read the book you would have been able to understand that when he refers to 'Fruedian Thinking' in the Q&A he is talking about non-scientific based thinking.

Dr. McHugh says, "Frued taught and modernists believe that (1) mental distress derives from some hidden struggle over an aspect of sexual life, (2) the symptoms of distress symbolically represent that sexual problem or experience, and (3) the severity of the symptoms is directly proportional to the gravity of the difficulty(Try to Remember pg 52)." I agree with you on the notion that suggestion in therapy is possibe in any kind of therapy, but the point is that psychoanalytic treatment suggested in patients that since they were depressed, suicidal, anorexic, etc. (fill in disorder of choice) they MUST have had horrific experiences of abuse (predominately sexual)through their childhood and they repressed such events. They used the formula: B(ex.depression)= A(repressed traumatic childhood abuse). With this formula they ignored any other possibilities for the cause of B.

Your statement, "All we know is that psychoanalytic therapy and CBT render equally positive results across many studies." Such a vague and presumptuous statement without citing empirical research to support your claim is naive. Mr. Brick, what exactly is Dr. McHugh wrong about? You didn't make that clear at all. Like Mr. Kupper, It is very apparent you had not read the book either. I would think you of all people would have read this book to have a stronger offensive and defensive argument. I'm very disappointed in you, Mr. Brick.

I am working on a documentary on the topic of repressed memories which will look at both sides respectfully and equally, and through my research (I'm in pre-production research currently) was interested in posing S.M.A.R.T.'s views... but if you don't read books that counter your beliefs and organization I don't know if you will represent the believers of repressed memory in an educated way. What do you see wrong with an organization that defends those who MAY have been falsely convicted or falsely accused, such as the False Memory Syndrome Foundation does? What if you were falsely convicted/accused of such a heinous crime, wouldn't you want support from somewhere to help you get out of prison and clear your name? Finally, Mr. Brick, If you aren't going to cite an EMPIRICAL journal article then please don't cite anything at all.

psychoanalysis
Daniel Kupper

8/1/2009 11:01:30 PM

 I was honestly shocked to read Dr. McHugh's comments. His understanding of Freud and psychoanalytic treatment, in general, is quite limited and quite wrong. "Recovered memory" has nothing to do with psychoanalytic theory or practice. In fact, Freud turned away from his early attempts at trying to explain psychopathology as the result of toxic, repressed memories and toward a concept of the mind and memory that was more complex. He was and still is vilified for this by those who believe in a simplistic trauma model of psychopathology. A major reason for this was his realization that he had been subtley "suggesting" traumatic memories that never actually took place. If there was anyone acutely aware of the tendency of the realtionship between therapist and patient to construct reality, it was Freud. In fact, this tendency could hold true in any kind of therapy including CBT. All we know is that psychoanalytic therapy and CBT render equally positive results across many studies. But, it always alarming when misinformation, or is it more likely disinformation,is confidently put forward by someone with tremendous authority in mental health care.

multiple personalities(2)
Victoria Lytle

12/27/2008 6:58:48 PM

 It seemed as though when psychiatrists diagnosed multiple personalities it was a way of reconciling evil in otherwise benign subjects. I would be interested in hearing Dr. McHugh's theory on evil behavior and whether that is an excuse for giving people DSM disorders.

McHugh is wrong
Neil Brick

12/15/2008 9:21:15 AM

The research clearly shows that at least 10 percent of people sexually abused in childhood will have periods of complete amnesia for their abuse, followed by experiences of delayed recall.  Study after study has shown that high percentages of recovered memories have been fully corroborated. See: http://ritualabuse.us/research/memory-fms/recovered-memory-data/ 

The research also has consistently shown that false allegations of child sexual abuse by children are rare, as low as one percent in some studies. Also, when McHugh ran the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, doctors did not report the child abuse of later convicted child sex offenders. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/09/20/ED175849.DTL 

McHugh is also a founder and board member of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation, an organization that in part defends accused and convicted child molesters. http://www.fmsfonline.org/advboard.html

Repressed desires?
Lynn Murphy

12/9/2008 5:39:34 PM

How do we know for certain that a sexual abuse accusation is a “false memory” unless we see what kind of evidence there is to support the accusation?

Couldn’t the accusation also be based on repressed, disturbing desires? Memory researcher Dr. Elizabeth Loftus says in her 1981 textbook, “Thus a young woman who is sexually attracted to her father may try to repress her disturbing incestuous desires. But her behavior may indicate that these feelings are not completely forgotten. The woman may pause or fumble for words when discussing certain things about her father and she may show other signs of anxiety such as sweating or blushing” (Psychology, p. 203).

Try to Remember
Bonnie Zervas

11/21/2008 9:20:44 AM

 Our family has fallen victim to a daughter's repressed memory therapy through the therapy of body memories. I, myself, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and am second guessing psychotherapy in general, since it has fragmented my family with a hideously false accusation of childhood sexual abuse and other atrocities. No specifics have ever been given, only implied charges based not on cognitive memory, but on body memories. Where can we go from here to either receive support or give support to others in the same situation?