Alien Abduction Syndrome

The Alien Abduction Syndrome is also known as UFO Abduction Syndrome, Alien Abduction or the Abduction Phenomenon. This syndrome describes subjectively real memories of being taken secretly against one's will by apparently nonhuman entities and subjected to complex medical, physical and psychological procedures.

Every sane person would agree that alien abductions are a figment of the imagination of a somewhat troubled mind. Research suggests that the Alien Abduction Syndrome is the result of deception, suggestibility (fantasy-proneness, hypnotizability, false memory syndrome), personality, sleep paralysis, psychopathology, psychodynamics and environmental factors"[1].

A small study found a number of patients prone to mildly paranoid thinking, nightmares and having a weak sexual identity. Several of the subjects of this study were labelled downright 'eccentric' or 'odd'[2].
The Alien Abduction Syndrome shares many features with reports of childhood ritual satanic abuse. Both are often associated with suggestive hypnotic procedures and structured interviews of deluded therapists. Strong and repeated demands for experiences results in a patient that will be confabulating fantasies that are then regarded as 'real memories'[3].

[1] Sheaffer: A Skeptical Perspective on UFO Abductions in Alien Discussions: Proceedings of the Abduction Study Conference – 1994
[2] Slater et al: The Final Report on the Psychological Testing of UFO "Abductees" in Fund for UFO Research - 1983
[3] Spanos et al: Past-life identities, UFO abductions, and satanic ritual abuse: the social construction of memories in International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis – 1994