%0 Case Reports
%T Implications of Pseudologia Fantastica in Criminal Forensic Evaluations: A Review and Case Report.
%A Frierson RL
%A Joshi KG
%J J Forensic Sci
%V 63
%N 3
%D May 2018
%M 28810073
%F 1.717
%R 10.1111/1556-4029.13616
%X 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.