Since the individual does not trust their own memory, they will commonly depend on outside sources of information rather than using their ability for recollection.
Some believe that this may be a defense or coping mechanism to a preexisting faulty memory state such as Alzheimer's disease, amnesia, or possibly dementia.
The condition is generally considered to be related to source amnesia, which involves the inability to recall the basis for factual knowledge.
[citation needed] The direct cause is unknown; however, it is possibly a defense or coping mechanism to a preexisting condition that would alter one's memory.
This could involve frontal lobe lesions, Alzheimer's disease, amnesia, dementia, or other conditions.
Because of this, individuals rely on external sources of information as opposed to assuming their recollection is correct.
It has been connected to obsessive-compulsive disorder in that repeated checking of information would result in a distrust of the individual's confidence of their memory.
[citation needed] These occur typically in cases of amnesia and frontal lobe disorders.
[citation needed] Similarly, delusions are a held conviction that the individual holds; however, it may not be due to a recollection of any specific event.
[citation needed] Since the cause of memory distrust syndrome is unknown, there is no ultimate test to determine diagnosis.
Third, shift refers to the number of changes that participants make in their answers after having received negative feedback (range 0–20).
[citation needed] Memory distrust disorder has been shown to cause false confessions in court cases.
This occurs when the suggestible individual is asked a question which leads them to believe that their recollection is incorrect.
The court system assumes that everyone is innocent until proven guilty; however, many times individuals are arrested for suspicion, which would simply require a motive and the lack of an alibi.
[citation needed] Studies have been performed on undiagnosed individuals and they have shown that minor detail alterations can and do easily go unnoticed.
In a specific study, individuals were asked to watch a tape of a robbery and then recall details about it.
However, this statement included minor alterations such as the number of people in the store at the time or what type of headgear the thief was wearing.