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Casey Anthony to Seek Professional Treatment for Mental Health Issues: Report

Psychologists: Treating Pathological Liars Like Casey Anthony is Difficult

The symptoms of this problem include volatile moods, extremely manipulative personalities, a lack of empathy of others and a strongly defensive nature, she said.

"I believe there is something that can be done for people like this," said Tony Ferretti, a psychologist in Melbourne, Fla. "The behavior has been learned and can be unlearned. A person is not born a liar."

Wish said the problem generally develops in early childhood and can come from a lack nurturing and stability, especially from parents.

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Casey Anthony's murder trial tore apart the Anthony family with lurid accusations that her father and brother molested her and that her father had a mistress. George Anthony denied those accusations. Casey Anthony's relationship with her mother was also portrayed as strained, with several witnesses saying that the two argued a lot and were often at odds.

Psychologists agree that all of this could contribute to Casey Anthony's penchant for lying.

Kuriansky believes that Anthony might be able to benefit from supportive counseling, but this would be a formidable challenge for a counselor or therapist who would need to be on guard about believing anything Anthony said.

"It's really hard to treat," Wish said. "You can't say it's impossible, but it's very difficult."

"These are people that cannot withstand very much self-examination, but you can work on emotional regulation and helping them understand and see [things] differently," Wish said. "It's a very small rope of balancing emotions and thinking."

While Anthony seeks treatment, her attorney, Jose Baez, will continue to listen to offers on Anthony's behalf until she is deemed healthy enough to speak to the public.

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