An article published in the June 2008 edition of the Psychiatric Times by author Charles Dike, MD, entitled: “Pathological Lying: Symptom or Disease?”, explores the complexity of this controversial condition. Dr. Dike defines pathological lying as being characterized as: “a long history of frequent and repeated lying for which there is no apparent psychological motive or external benefit that can be discerned…pathological lies often appear purposeless. In some cases, they might be self-incriminating or damaging, which makes the behavior even more incomprehensible.” One study indicated that at least among juvenile offenders, the prevalence of pathological lying was about one percent with the average age of onset being age 16. Pathological lying was equal among males and females, with an average IQ of 100 and with 40% of the individuals reporting a history of neurological abnormality. The controversy about pathological lying evolves around whether the pathological liar is able to think logically and is in full conscious control of her or her behavior. Clinical observations from a variety of sources point to a evidence supporting both views that pathological lying is both under the control of the liar and not under the control of the liar. Although pathological liars may have co-existing psychiatric disorders, there are also pathological liars that have no psychiatric conditions. Thus pathological lying remains poorly understood and researched. It is still not known whether pathological lying is a poorly understood psychiatric disorder or simply “behavioral excess”. No strong evidence as yet emerged that psychotherapy or psychiatric medications have any role in the management of the pathological liar.
The Bottom Line: It is still not known whether pathological lying is a poorly understood psychiatric disorder or “behavioral excess”. No treatments have emerged to date that appear to be effective in controlling this behavior.
Sources: Psychiatric Times
Dr. Jeffrey Speller
Dr. Tanya Korkosz
Psychopharmacology Associates
of New England
www.psychopharmassociates.com