Recovered memories and clinical practice

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dc.contributor.advisorMurphy, Gillian
dc.contributor.advisorDempsey, Maria
dc.contributor.authorCarey, Oisínen
dc.date.accessioned2025-10-03T09:25:33Z
dc.date.available2025-10-03T09:25:33Z
dc.date.issued2025en
dc.date.submitted2025
dc.description.abstractRecovered memories of trauma and abuse remain clinically and theoretically divisive, despite the decline in public controversy since the Memory Wars of the 1990s. This thesis aims to synthesise the contemporary evidence base, explore clinician perspectives, and develop a clinical model for managing recovered memories grounded in cognitive science. A systematic review of 42 empirical studies published since 2000 revealed that recovered memories remain relatively common, but definitional inconsistencies hinder clear prevalence estimates. A qualitative study using reflexive thematic analysis of interviews with seven Irish clinical psychologists found that therapists employ ‘strategic ambiguity’ to navigate the epistemic and ethical challenges posed by recovered memories, often compensating for gaps in professional training. Drawing together insights from memory science and clinical practice, a novel staged-intervention model is proposed to minimise risks of memory distortion while enabling therapeutic engagement with ambiguous memory content. The thesis advocates for improved prevalence research, a practical framework for clinicians, and educational reforms to bridge the persistent scientist-practitioner gap regarding recovered memories.en
dc.description.statusNot peer revieweden
dc.description.versionAccepted Versionen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.citationCarey, O. 2025. Recovered memories and clinical practice. DClinPsych Thesis, University College Cork.
dc.identifier.endpage215
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/17937
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherUniversity College Corken
dc.rights© 2025, Oisin Carey.
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectRecovered memories
dc.subjectDissociative amnesia
dc.subjectFalse memories
dc.subjectSystematic review
dc.subjectReflexive thematic analysis
dc.titleRecovered memories and clinical practice
dc.typeDoctoral thesisen
dc.type.qualificationlevelPractitioner Doctorateen
dc.type.qualificationnameDClinPsych - Doctor of Clinical Psychologyen
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