Memory distrust syndrome

Memory distrust syndrome is a condition first described by Gísli Guðjónsson and James MacKeith in 1982, in which a person doubts the accuracy of their own memory of events they experienced, including what happened and in what setting. Because the person does not trust their recollection, they tend to lean on outside sources of information, and may change an accurate memory when someone they trust suggests something different. The article treats it as related to source amnesia, but distinguishes the two: source amnesia is not knowing where knowledge came from, while memory distrust syndrome is a lack of trust in knowledge that is present. The direct cause is described as unknown, though it may be a coping response to a pre-existing memory problem such as Alzheimer disease, amnesia or dementia, or a habit learned through conditioning. Cases have been linked to documented false confessions in court. It is not the same as false memory syndrome, in which incorrect memories are strongly believed.