Malingering and memory

Abstract

During my first year of clinical psychology training a 29-year-old woman came to my office and asked me to help her to deal with a horrible experience. Three years before, she had been in her relative’s place for a family party. After a few hours, the house was invaded by robbers. They were violent, hit people and took their money. One of her cousins suffered sexual violence, and no one could help her; the assaulters intimidated those present and threatened them with guns. This sad and scary experience left a mark on her. She became depressed. She was afraid to go out at night. She was unable to look others in the eye, thinking that they were judging her, and that she should have protected her cousin. She told me during some of our therapy sessions that she really would like to forget everything about that hideous day. But she could not. Her memories were stronger than her desire. She told me that a psychiatrist had told her that she had a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and that she agreed; the scenes were so vivid to her that they seemed to have happened just a few moments ago.