Do You Know Someone Who Suffers From Pathological Lying?

You've probably heard people throw around the term, "pathological lying." Although most of us think we know someone with this condition, the fact is that it is a rather unusual disease.

Is Pathological Lying a Mental Health Diagnosis?

Pathological lying is a not a "stand alone" mental health condition. It's not listed as a separate diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Volume IV, Text Revision- TR (DSM-IV TR). However, pathological lying is a set of symptoms that tends to accompany mental health diagnoses of antisocial personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder and various disorders of impulse control, according to the Wise Geek website.

How Do Mental Health Experts Determine if a Client Suffers from Pathological Lying?

Pathological lying is unique in that it can be incredibly difficult for mental health experts to assess. After all, how does one determine in an hour when a new client is lying? Secondly, a major aspect of a mental health assessment is posing questions and listening to the client's self-report. If the client is telling untruths, the clinician often does not detect them.

Some experts believe it's not just what people say that tips off the listener they are lying, it's how they behave when they talk. Behaviors such as not making eye contact, looking down, or fidgeting in the chair along with other body language is thought to signal lying. Other mental health clinicians believe that if you listen closely enough while completing an assessment, you will detect inconsistencies in the client's information.

Whatever the case, statistics on pathological lying are difficult to obtain. As you might guess, those who lie pathologically tend not to admit they are lying when asked. Thus, clinicians come to rely on clients' family members' reports or doing therapy with a client over a long period of time to determine whether the client suffers from pathological lying.

What are the Symptoms of Pathological Lying?

Symptoms of pathological lying include:

-Lying for no apparent reason. Although, yes, we all lie once in a while, most of us tend to lie to keep ourselves out of trouble, not to hurt someone's feelings, or to avoid disagreements. However, one who struggles with pathological lying will lie in all kinds of circumstances, even when it doesn't matter if she lies. Pathological lying, in a sense, is contagious. After lying so many times, the person's first response to almost any situation is to lie.

-Telling incredible lies that you might suspect right away are not true. For example, if someone says he is the U.S. president's best friend or that he can run a mile in 4 minutes, you might recognize these falsehoods. In essence, a person with a pathological lying habit has no shame in terms of the lies he will tell.

-Inventing more lies to get out of lies you are confronting them about. An interesting aspect of the disease of pathological lying is that a person suffering from the affliction would most likely not ever admit to you that he's not been truthful. Instead, he tells even more lies to support the original falsehoods.

What Treatment is Available for People who Struggle with Pathological Lying?

Although pathological lying can be treated with medication and cognitive behavioral therapy, treatment of such conditions is complex. One who lies pathologically must identify within himself that he wants to stop lying and thus be motivated for treatment. Otherwise, the clinician is unable to truly assist a client in overcoming the condition of pathological lying (Live Strong website) .

If you suspect you or someone you love desires assistance for pathological lying, consult with a psychiatrist, licensed mental health counselor or your general physician.

Sources

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Volume IV, Text Revision

Live Strong website

Wise Geek website