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Cited by 195Memory Processes and InfluencesPosttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchMemory, History, Trauma, Identity

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 39 of the 41 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Debunking Myths about Trauma and Memory

Open access
McNally, Richard J·2005·The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
DOI 10.1177/070674370505001302
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Abstract

How trauma victims remember—or forget—their most horrific experiences lies at the heart of the most bitter controversy in psychiatry and psychology in recent times. Whereas experts maintain that traumatic events—those experienced as overwhelmingly terrifying at the time of their occurrence—are remembered all too well, traumatic amnesia theorists disagree. Although these theorists acknowledge that trauma is often seemingly engraved on memory, they nevertheless maintain that a significant minority of survivors are incapable of remembering their trauma, thanks to mechanisms of either dissociation or repression. Unfortunately, the evidence they adduce in support of the concept of traumatic dissociative amnesia fails to support their claims. The purpose of this review is to dispel confusions and debunk myths regarding trauma and memory.

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Show all 41 references

Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. McNally RJ, 2003, Remembering trauma
  2. Spiegel D., 1997, Repressed memories, 5
  3. Bloom SL, 1994, J Psychohistory, 21, 461
  4. 10.1037/0022-006X.62.6.1167 · DOI
  5. 10.1002/jts.2490060104 · DOI
  6. Clancy SA, McNally RJ. Recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse: Forgetting as a consequence of voluntary suppression. Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice. Forthcoming.

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Metadata

Authors
McNally, R. J.
Affiliations
Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
McNally, Richard J
ORCID
McNally, Richard J
Venue
The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2005-11
Volume
50
Issue
13
Pages
817-822
ISSN
  • 0706-7437 (ISSN-L)
  • 1497-0015
DOI
10.1177/070674370505001302
OpenAlex
W2121060610
Cited by
195
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 2
FWCI
0.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01mh061268-04)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH 61268)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Memory, History, Trauma, Identity
Keywords
traumatic amnesia, dissociative amnesia, repression, dissociation, traumatic memory, trauma survivors, memory and forgetting
MeSH terms
Amnesia, Child, Child Abuse, Sexual, Dissociative Disorders, Humans, Repression, Psychology, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

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