title: Psychiatric aspects of normal and pathological lying.
abstract: The paper outlines the difference between the so-called normal (common) lying and pathological lying. Pathological lying is an intriguing topic, still lacking any strong professional consensus, clear etiology, treatment options and prognoses. The paper explores some possible psychological mechanisms of pathological lying, reviews biological factors in pathological lying, and considers forensic significance of normal and pathological lying. The relationship between pathological lying and mental disorders is also discussed. The authors suggest that lying should be considered as a heterogenic and multidimensional behavioral pattern. The paper highlights how important it is to assess the patient's control over lying, the function of lying, insight into and awareness of lying, as well as the effect of lying on everyday functioning.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Dubrava, Department of Psychiatry, Referral Centre for Stress-Related Disorders of the Ministry of Health, Avenija Gojka Šuška 6, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: lana.muzinic@inet.hr.
authors.forename: Lana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muzinic
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Dubrava, Department of Psychiatry, Referral Centre for Stress-Related Disorders of the Ministry of Health, Avenija Gojka Šuška 6, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: dkozaric_kovacic@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Dragica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kozaric-Kovacic
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Dubrava, Department of Psychiatry, Referral Centre for Stress-Related Disorders of the Ministry of Health, Avenija Gojka Šuška 6, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: igor.marinic@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marinic
mesh_terms: D001364:Awareness; D008192:Deception; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D009042:Motivation; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Forensic psychiatry; Lying; Pathological lying