How to Treat Pathological Lying

"Pathological lying" refers to uncontrollable lying, and in most cases, these liars don't even realize they're doing it. It's suspected that an area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex is responsible for this, since this area's function is to distinguish what's right from what's wrong. There's much debate as to how to treat a pathological liar and in many cases, there are other psychological conditions associated with it.

Instructions

• 1

  Determine if the patient has any other conditions and seek to treat those first. Medication and psychotherapy are the most common treatments for mental illness; medication will deal with any chemical imbalances and psychotherapy will help get to the root of the problem and establish a rapport with the patient. It's best to use these treatments in conjunction.

• 2

  Track any changes in the patient's lying habits. If the lying tapers off or stops completely, it is most likely best to continue with the same treatment. If not, readjust the medication and reevaluate.

• 3

  Probe the patient to reveal any indications of a personality disorder such as Borderline or Antisocial Personality Disorder. Certain personality tests are designed to help diagnose these conditions and might be of help in this situation. If a personality disorder is discovered, proceed with the common treatment for that condition and repeat Step 2.

• 4

  Try Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It focuses on the emotional response, and the pathological liar is severely lacking in this area. CBT may be able to help the liar take responsibility for their actions. Repeat Step 2 after each session.