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Case study: allegations of abuse created in a single interview
1Psychiatric Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, USA.
Objective:
To illustrate how young children can be induced to make false allegations of sexual abuse.
Method:
The author presents a case that is unusual because elaborate, detailed allegations of sexual abuse came about during a single interview, the interviewer was a baby-sitter rather than a mental health professional, and the interview was recorded on tape.
Results:
Children can be induced to make elaborate, detailed false statements after being subjected to repetitive, suggestive, and leading questions during a single interview.
Conclusions:
Child abuse investigators should determine the origin and evolution of allegations of abuse. Children should not be removed from their parents if is likely that the allegations against the parents are false.