Some observations on the meaning of confabulation

Confabulation is poorly defined and understood, judging by accounts in some psychiatric textbooks. Many authors appear to consider confabulation as a purposive act on the part of the patient designed to fill in memory gaps by fabricating false statements to spare himself embarrassment and to deceive the interviewer. Clinical observation shows tha the confabulating patient is almost wholly unaware of his memory defect and that his statements are derived from an accessible store of memories dating from before the onset of his illness. The basic problem is the patient's inability to remember that he cannot remember. Consequently it is incorrect to assume any active intention on his part other than a simple wish to provide information in response to questions.