Study: 72% of False Rape Accusers Were in Therapy When Accusations Were Made

Hypnosis and "memory recall" modalities were the top known types of therapists

A groundbreaking study has revealed that an astonishing 72% of women who made false accusations of assault were actively in therapy at the time of the alleged incidents. This finding raises significant questions about how mental health issues or false memories formed during therapy can destroy innocent men’s lives.

Led by Professor Sanne Houben of the University of Maastricht, the study, titled “Alleged False Accusations of Abuse: Characteristics, Consequences, and Coping,” was published in November 2023 in Memory, a prestigious academic journal. The research team interviewed 61 members of the group “False Memory Deutschland,” a support network primarily composed of individuals who had been falsely accused, as well as some parents seeking help for an accused son or a parent of an accuser.

“Although victim testimonies can be quite accurate, we know that some memories of abuse can be inaccurate or even entirely false. Such false memories of abuse may result in a false allegation with serious legal, societal, and personal consequences for the accused—and sometimes the accusers or their therapists,” Houben writes.

The study revealed troubling statistics about the accusers’ mental health. Nearly half (47.5%) of falsely accused men reported that their accuser had “issues with emotional instability,” while 36.1% noted that their accuser struggled with school or work. These factors, the study suggests, may contribute to the fabrication of assault stories. Mood disorders, psychosis, borderline personality disorder were commonly cited mental health issues among their accusers, an addendum to the paper found.

When asked about possible motives, over 62% of the falsely accused men believed their accuser held a “false belief” that an assault actually occurred. Meanwhile, 26% attributed the false accusation to attention-seeking behavior, and 23% believed revenge was the motive. Some respondents stated that the allegation might have resulted from a misinterpretation of events, such as physical contact, a real accident, or a mix-up of people involved. Others pointed to mental health issues as the cause.

One of the study’s most alarming findings is the strong correlation between false accusations and therapy attendance. A staggering 78.7% of false accusers were in therapy prior to the accusation, and 72.1% were actively in therapy at the time of the accusation. This stark contrast to general population statistics—where only 8-15% of women are in active weekly or biweekly therapy—suggests a significant link between therapy attendance and the likelihood of false accusations.

The paper’s findings implicate certain therapeutic practices, such as trauma therapy, hypnosis, and memory recovery techniques, in the creation of false memories. Professor Houben specifically warns that these practices may lead women to falsely believe an assault occurred, even when it did not.

For the accused men, the consequences are devastating. The study found that false accusations often lead to mental anguish, broken family connections, job loss or workplace issues, and legal repercussions. Respondents often felt like they had lost trust and friendships, with friends breaking off contact in almost a quarter of cases.

To cope with the fallout, many of the falsely accused turned to support organizations like False Memory Deutschland, sought therapy, or relied on advice centers and victim support groups. Others tried to move forward without harboring resentment toward their accuser.

With only 61 participants, the study’s sample size is relatively small. However, the findings underscore the urgent need for more comprehensive research into the mental health factors and therapeutic practices that may lead to false accusations.

This report was brought to you by Toni Airaksinen, Senior Editor of Liberty Affair and a journalist based in Delray Beach and Boca Raton, Florida. Follow her on X: @Toni_Airaksinen.