Pseudologia Fantastica

Excerpt

Pseudologia fantastica (PF), commonly known as pathological lying or mythomania, is a psychiatric phenomenon characterized by persistent, pervasive, and often compulsive lying. PF involves the intricate crafting of highly exaggerated narratives across various domains of life, including personal background, accomplishments, and interpersonal connections. Individuals afflicted with PF earnestly subscribe to these fabricated accounts, often perceiving them as genuine truths. Unlike conventional lying, which typically involves 3 key components—consciousness of falsehood, intentional act of conveying misinformation, and a predetermined motive—PF diverges in its presentation and is characterized by a sincere belief in the veracity of the fabricated narratives, rather than a deliberate and calculated attempt to deceive for specific gain or purpose.

PF manifests as an excessive distortion of reality grounded in factual elements, involving prolonged and extensive fabrication of events over extended durations, often spanning years, and lacking predefined objectives. Characterized by the construction of ostensibly credible falsehoods intricately woven into a framework of reality, PF is distinguished by its consistency over time and absence of overt personal gain motives, instead marked by a propensity for exaggeration and a notable lack of control over the fabrication process. The fabrications characteristic of PF stands in contrast to fixed delusions in that individuals afflicted with PF can acknowledge the falsehood of their statements upon confrontation with factual evidence. This differs from false fixed beliefs, known as delusions, wherein individuals persist in their erroneous convictions even when presented with incontrovertible evidence contradicting their beliefs, demonstrating an inability to recognize the falsehood of their assertions.

Since PF was conceptualized in the late 1800s, it has not been recognized as an independent disorder. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. (DSM-5), the condition is considered to be a feature of cluster B personality disorders, including narcissistic, antisocial, and histrionic types, or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PF has been theorized to stem from low self-esteem. PF is most related to factitious disorder, which was a standalone diagnosis in the DSM-IV and is classified under "Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders" in DSM-5, characterized by producing physical or psychological signs or symptoms without external gain or clear reasoning behind them.

"Pseudologue" is a term used to refer to an individual who engages in PF, meaning someone who habitually fabricates elaborate and exaggerated stories. The term is derived from the condition itself, where pseudo in Greek means "false or deceptive," and logue is derived from the Greek word logos, meaning "speech or discourse." Therefore, a "pseudologue" is essentially someone who engages in the behavior characteristic of PF. PF has significant forensic implications, particularly in examining a pseudologue's competency to stand trial, as they may deliver false testimony under oath. Currently, PF is not recognized as an official mental illness per the DSM-5. Having one symptom without a recognized disorder may pose a question in mitigation.

With the existing limited data on PF, efforts to comprehend its prevalence, identify associated risk factors, and assess its impact on individuals and society are imperative. Through clinical recognition and the implementation of suitable management strategies, the adverse repercussions of pathological lying can be alleviated, potentially leading to improved outcomes for those affected by this condition.