Understanding Pathological Lying (Pseudologia Fantastica)

Pathological Lying- Overview

The term “pseudologia phantastica” was first coined by Anton Delbruek (1891), where he described the distinct symptoms that characterized this phenomenon. As there haven’t been many case studies, or treatment studies published on this topic, there is relatively little understanding about the concept in the general public. Thus, an attempt is made in this article to present information that leads to a general understanding of the concept .

What is Pseudologia Fantastica?

Pseudologia fantastica, also known as mythomania, is a phenomenon where an individual experiences a compulsive urge to lie, irrespective of the nature of the situation at hand. These lies could be about any aspect of their history, symptoms, or life story in general, and are presented in a manner that intrigues the listener. According to the clinical picture of the phenomenon presented up until recently, the common symptoms include:

Marked tendency to lie, i.e., instead of lying to avoid shame or being under pressure, the individual experiences a “high” as a result of lying.
Rather than having an external motivation, the lies generate from an internal (intrapsychic) motivation.
The lies are quite fantastical or dazzling in nature, i,e, they seldom have any truthful elements to them, and are designed to present the individual in a positive light.
The lies are told without an obvious purpose, are chronic in nature, and are presented on an impulsive whim.

Often manifesting as a character trait, pseudologia fantastica’s onset is usually by 16 years of age, although the initial reporting is at around 22 years. There are many other disorders that share similar symptoms with pseudologia fantastica, namely, Factitious disorder, Malingering, Ganser syndrome, Confabulations, Munchausen syndrome etc. These distinct characteristics are also seen in Cluster B Personality disorders, which include Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, and Narcissistic.

“Once I saved a friend of mine. To help this friend I had to jump 1 mile up from a helicopter into a pool of alligators and sharks in Florida. I was able to fend off the shark attack and outmuscle the alligators with my strength. My friend treated me like I was a hero. And I had to use a harpoon to kill the many sharks and gators. The harpoon went into the alligator’s eye ball….”- (Quote from a patient)

Possible underlying causes

Cognition – Due to underlying negative schemas, or perceptions in the brain, individuals seek attention to avoid negative emotions pertaining to their low self-esteem, hence seeking validation through pathological lying.
Intrapsychic – According to Deutsch, these pathological lies could be an attempt to build one’s self esteem, wherein the individual may or may not be aware or willing to admit the true internal motives behind their lying.
Biological – A research conducted by Yang et al, a widespread increase in white matter, and a reduction in grey matter in the brain is observed in liars. This increase in white matter may predispose individuals to pathological lying.
Comorbidity – As mentioned before, these symptoms are shared with various other psychological disorders, and can also be accompanied with anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders/traits, etc. Hence, in these cases the clinical picture becomes extremely complex, and a detailed differential is required.

Possible treatments

Although there is no clear treatment, there are many options available, out of which psychotherapy deems the most effective. It helps an individual accept one’s need of approval and attention, and guides them in overcoming those psychological issues. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help correct distorted schemas, i,.e, negative perceptions in the brain, and restore some sense of self. Listening and unconditional acceptance is of utmost importance, as it helps in overcoming feelings of neglect, abuse, or lack of attention. It has been observed that although these lies were told as true events, the individual eventually acknowledged them as being “dreams” when the right help was provided to them. Their lies started lacking the “fantastical” elements, and start to relate more to the real world. However, this is a slow and continuous process, and does not always confirm the same results.

Is it a Psychological disorder?

Psychological disorders are mainly characterised as those which disrupt the daily functioning of life. In the field of Psychology, there are many disorders that explain the ways and reasons why an individual is unable to carry out the basic activities of daily life. When it comes to Pseudologia fantastica, however, there is a school of thought that states that despite being distinct, it is not classified as a psychological disorder as it does not impair daily functioning, and is not treatable. Nonetheless, the debate of whether to treat it as a mental disorder still continues, as not much research has been conducted on the subject yet. Analysis of various case studies and research papers continue to be carried out to gain more insight into the phenomenon, so that an informed conclusion can be made.

Pseudologia fantastica is a highly debated phenomenon in the field of Psychology. The lack of research and evidence makes it difficult to arrive at any conclusions, and hence it becomes challenging to understand such a concept. However, with case studies and research being conducted everyday, new information and evidence is being found, which brings us one step closer to understanding it better. Currently, there are no diagnostic criteria to define Pseudologia fantastica, and it continues to be defined by practitioners witnessing case studies first-hand. Nevertheless, individuals who have a tendency of pathological lying definitely require help, and should be given an opportunity to seek the appropriate help required.