Confabulation

Excerpt

Confabulation is a neuropsychiatric disorder wherein a patient generates a false memory without the intention of deceit. The patient believes the statement to be truthful, hence the descriptive term “honest lying.” The hypothesis is that the patient generates information as a compensatory mechanism to fill holes in one’s memories. It functions for self-coherence, integration of memories, and self-relevance. Confabulations can include small details such as birthdays, or they may be fantastical and more broadly based. They can be believable or bizarre. Presenting patients with contradictory information may further perpetuate confabulation in an attempt to explain their account.