When should you get help for a child who’s a pathological liar?
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When should you get help for a child who's a pathological liar?
Clinical Expert: Harold S. Koplewicz, MD
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Question
When should you get help for a child who's a pathological liar?
Answer
Children lie for many reasons. Sometimes they do it to avoid consequences. Sometimes they do it when feeling inadequate, insecure, or anxious. Sometimes they are simply copying a peer’s or an adult’s bad behavior. Lying, however, is a symptom, not a diagnosis. If a child is a pathological liar or habitually lying and then experiencing distress or dysfunction, it is time to seek professional help and a psychiatric evaluation.
This article was last reviewed or updated on October 7, 2024.
Topic:
Behavior Problems
Harold S. Koplewicz, MD
Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, is the founding President and Medical Director of the Child Mind Institute and is a senior child and adolescent psychiatrist in the Psychopharmacology Center. Read Bio
