[Lost and found--memories of sexual abuse in childhood]

During the last ten years a polarised debate has revolved about recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse. Some researchers are going far in denying the possibility of recovered memories, regarding them as false memories. Others claim that there is solid evidence for the reality of the phenomena. A key question is how memory is working in general, and especially in relation to stressful events in early life. Since memory is reconstructive, false and distorted memories can arise. There is growing evidence drawn from empirical research that childhood sexual abuse, like other trauma, can be forgotten for years before being recalled, although difficulties in forgetting traumatic experiences are a more frequent problem.