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Journal Article

Citation

Frierson RL, Joshi KG. J. Forensic Sci. 2018; 63(3): 976-979.

Affiliation

Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, 3555 Harden Street Ext., Suite 301, Columbia, SC.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.13616

PMID

28810073

Abstract

Pseudologia fantastica, a psychological phenomenon that has been described in the literature for at least a century, is an understudied and poorly understood entity. Sometimes referred to as pathological lying, pseudologia fantastica involves disproportionate fabrication that may be present for many years or a lifetime. In a forensic context, it can significantly complicate the evaluation of capacity to stand trial and, in certain jurisdictions, criminal responsibility. We review the current literature regarding pseudologia fantastica and present a case to highlight the clinical and forensic challenges it may create. We specifically discuss the complications that pseudologia fantastica may have on the assessment of a defendant's rational ability to consult with an attorney, a required element of capacity to stand trial. In addition, we discuss the implications of pseudologia fantastica in the evaluation of criminal responsibility.

© 2017 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.


Language: en

Keywords

capacity to stand trial; criminal forensic evaluations; criminal responsibility; forensic science; pathological lying; pseudologia fantastica

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