Compulsive lying disorder nhs

Maybe we all have told a lie in our lives, most of which are considered 'white lies.

Pathological liar test

Some types of lying can reflect a pro-social attitude and be used to facilitate positive contact. There can be many valid and harmless reasons that people lie. However, there can be a big difference between harmlessly lying and constantly lying—also known as compulsive lying, mythomania, or pseudologia fantastica. The concept of the pathological liar or compulsive liar first appeared in medical literature by German scientist Anton Delbrueck in but pathological lying remains unclear in its exact definition.

It can be a controversial topic as experts debate whether it should be considered a distinct, separate psychological disorder, or if this type of lying could be a symptom of a personality disorder, such as antisocial personality disorder, bipolar disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder.

While mental health conditions, in some cases, might explain why someone is a pathological liar, they do not excuse any harmful behavior. Simply put, a pathological liar is an individual who compulsively and habitually lies.

Constant lying and making up stories

The lies they tell are typically disproportionate to reality, can be complex, and are often manifested over an extended period. While other liars lie with specific motives, such as to escape negative consequences, pathological liars may often lie for no discernable reason. For these individuals, telling a lie may be more natural than telling the truth, so much so that their whole history and existence can be a fabrication.

Lying can feel like an addictive game to them. Pathological liars can be hard to recognize but here are some of the pathological liar signs that you should know. Sometimes, these individuals have a lying behavior where they even start to believe their own fabricated stories, with some experts observing that they do not know the difference between fact and fiction.

They may be 'functionally delusional' and integrate their lie with truth so much they can even pass a lie detector test. The lies they tell tend to be grandiose and outlandish to make them appear as either the hero or the villain.