Pathological fire-setting 1951-1991: a review

Explanations of firesetting in mentally disordered offenders: a review of the literature

This paper reviews current explanations of firesetting in adult mentally disordered offenders. In particular, attention is given to contemporary research that has examined developmental and background characteristics, personality and associated traits, motivation for firesetting, neurobiological explanations, psychiatric diagnoses, and frequency of self-injurious behavior, including suicide. The likelihood of recidivism and associated risk factors is also considered. Evaluation of the existing research has highlighted that even though a significant proportion has been conducted with psychiatric populations, little is understood about firesetting by mentally disordered offenders. In addition, little research has been conducted that compares mentally disordered firesetters to both other mentally disordered offenders and non-mentally disordered offenders. Recommendations are made for future research to further develop knowledge of this behavior.

Epidemiologic and clinical updates on impulse control disorders: a critical review

The article reviews the current knowledge about the impulse control disorders (ICDs) with specific emphasis on epidemiological and pharmacological advances. In addition to the traditional ICDs present in the DSM-IV-pathological gambling, trichotillomania, kleptomania, pyromania and intermittent explosive disorder-a brief description of the new proposed ICDs-compulsive-impulsive (C-I) Internet usage disorder, C-I sexual behaviors, C-I skin picking and C-I shopping-is provided. Specifically, the article summarizes the phenomenology, epidemiology and comorbidity of the ICDs. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between ICDs and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Finally, current pharmacological options for treating ICDs are presented and discussed.

The discotheque fire in Gothenburg 1998. A tragedy among teenagers

The fire disaster in Gothenburg, Sweden, 1998 killing 63 and wounding 213 teenagers was caused by arson committed by a youth from the same community. The fire was started in the basement of an overcrowded discotheque and made, due to unfortunate circumstances, devastating progress. The ensuing rescue work performed by other youth, fire fighters, police and medical staff was prompt and must be seen in the light of a very difficult situation. As a result of these orchestrated efforts and the fact that this disaster occurred in a major city with substantial resources, all the injured were able to be hospitalized within 2h. The load on four local hospitals was initially severe due to the large number of injured and the limited number of staff on night duty. The situation was contained by relocating patients from the intensive care units to ordinary wards and by transporting several of the most severe burn injuries by helicopter to burn units in other parts of Sweden and to Norway. Hundreds of relatives and friends gathered at the local hospitals. This was a new experience for the hospitals and staff, involving many positive aspects as well as some negative aspects such as violence, threats and rumors. As a result of the large number of injuries vast psychosocial rehabilitation program was initiated by health care staff, religious communions, schools and the community, has continued over the past years. Such a disaster emphasises a requirement for extensive preparation not only in the rescue and medical services, but also in the ways and areas to rehabilitate patients in society.

Criminal psychological profiling of serial arson crimes

The practice of criminal psychological profiling is frequently cited as being applicable to serial arson crimes. Despite this claim, there does not appear to be any empirical research that examines serial arson offence behaviors in the context of profiling. This study seeks to develop an empirical model of serial arsonist behaviors that can be systematically associated with probable offender characteristics. Analysis has produced a model of offence behaviors that identify four discrete behavior patterns, all of which share a constellation of common nondiscriminatory behaviors. The inherent behavioral themes of each of these patterns are explored with discussion of their broader implications for our understanding of serial arson and directions for future research.

Evaluation of a group intervention for convicted arsonists with mild and borderline intellectual disabilities

BACKGROUND

The extent to which people with intellectual disabilities (ID) set fires is difficult to ascertain. However, services working with people with ID and offending or quasi-offending histories are increasing the amount of attention that they give to this difficult and perplexing issue. This is due to the real and perceived threat that it presents to society and the seriousness with which it viewed by the criminal justice system.

AIM

Against this background there is very little available in the research literature concerning treatment interventions for fire-setting behaviour in this client group, and even less regarding their effectiveness.

METHOD

In the current study 14 men and women with mild and borderline ID, convictions for arson and detained in a hospital low secure service were offered and completed a broadly cognitive behavioural, approximately 40-session group-based intervention. The treatment was aimed primarily at reducing fire interest and attitudes associated with fire-setting behaviour. Participants were assessed pre- and post-treatment on a number of fire-specific, anger, self-esteem and depression measures.

RESULTS

Following treatment, significant improvements were found in all areas assessed, excepting depression. Despite the limitations of the study design, the results provide encouragement and some guidance to practitioners who are required to develop interventions for this challenging, yet much neglected client group.

What Every NURSE Needs to Know about...JUVENILE FIRESETTERS

With the number of juvenile firesetters growing each year and the amount of psychological and financial damage they create, it is essential that clinical professionals are aware of the characteristics surrounding juveniles who set fires. This study had two primary purposes: to educate nurses and mental health practitioners about the etiology and treatment of juvenile firesetters and to discuss a number of exploratory predictors, including age, gender, aggression, internalizing behaviors, level of deviancy, family dynamics, and sociability. Certain individual and environmental characteristics relate to varying levels of damage caused by the fire and the presence or absence of recidivistic behaviors. Firesetters are a group widely seen in the general population but not often identified or studied by clinical professionals. Therefore, this article has implications for the clinical practice of nurse practitioners and others who come into contact with this clinical population.

Clinical findings in the medico-legal investigation of arsonists

Criminal and pathological arson is often committed with the help of fire accelerants. The formation of an explosive gas/air mixture may lead to an explosion whose extent and fierceness is often underestimated by the offenders. This explosion causes typical heat changes on exposed persons: * Singeing of eyelashes, eyebrows and hair growing near the frontal hairline * Singeing of the beard * Singeing of body hair in regions not covered by clothing (e.g. back of the hand) * In severe cases, skin burns of varying degree (back of hand, face). Such heat-related changes can sometimes be detected weeks after the offence.

Repeated arson: data from criminal records

The criminal careers of all arsonists convicted in former West-Germany between 1983 and 1985 who were found not to be responsible due to diminished responsibility for psychiatric reasons and a random sample (every third) of all criminally liable arsonists during the same period of time were followed up until 1994 by means of their trial records. Reappearance before the court for arson did not differ between the groups. When subjects are grouped by the additional occurrence of crimes other than arson, however, arsonists with diminished responsibility are the most problematic group: In comparison with all other subgroups, the arsonists who were partly responsible who did not commit any crimes other than arson showed the highest number of fire-setting incidents. Among the arsonists who committed other crimes as well, arsonists with diminished responsibility had the highest number of additional offences.

Characteristics of fire-setters. A study and proposed multiaxial psychiatric classification

BACKGROUND

The study set out to review the relationship between mental disorder and fire-setting.

METHOD

Sociodemographic, psychiatric, and medical data were retrospectively obtained from case notes of a group of 36 fire-setters referred to the North West Thames Forensic Psychiatry Service over a four-year period.

RESULTS

Of the sample, 28% were female and one-third had no mental illness; 28% had a previous medical history of possible relevance. Psychoactive substance abuse was common. There was a significant disturbance of interpersonal relationships. Eighty-five per cent lived alone, and 44% of the female fire-setters had a history of sexual abuse.

CONCLUSION

On the basis of this study, a multiaxial classification system of fire-setting is proposed.