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PubMed1996

MMPI-A profiles of adolescent boys with a history of firesetting.

Firesetting in childhood and adolescence is associated with the more severe end of the conduct-disorder continuum and is considered to be prognostic of later pathology. The literature provides limited understanding of the pathology underlying firesetting in juveniles. This study compared the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Assessment-Adolescent profiles of 28 psychiatric inpatient adolescent boys with a history of firesetting with the profiles of 96 psychiatric inpatient adolescent boys who do not have a history of firesetting. Using multivariate analyses, the firesetting group appeared more pathological than did the nonfiresetting group as reflected by significantly higher scores on three clinical scales: Psychasthenia (Pt), Schizophrenia (Sc), and Mania (Ma). The firesetting group also scored significantly higher than did the nonfiresetting group on eight of the content scales: Adolescent-Depression, Adolescent-Alienation, Adolescent-Bizarre Mentation, Adolescent-Anger, Adolescent-Conduct Problems, Adolescent-Family Problems, Adolescent-School Problems, and Adolescent-Negative Treatment Indicators. Taken together, these results suggest that the pathology associated with juvenile firesetting is more complex as well as more severe than that associated with nonfiresetting conduct disorder. The firesetting group's profiles suggest that their psychopathology is not merely a severe behavior disorder but rather is indicative of feelings of distress, alienation, depression, and thought disorder or poor reality testing. This degree of inner turmoil may be motivational impetus for the firesetting itself.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Enuresis, firesetting, and cruelty to animals: the significance of two thirds of this triad.

The full childhood triad of enuresis, firesetting, and cruelty to animals is seldom reported by patients in acute care psychiatric facilities. Two of the three elements have been reported with greater frequency and constitute useful diagnostic information. Literature on the triad has been reviewed and data from three studies have been presented. The authors concluded that a history of two thirds of the triad is significantly associated with aggressive behaviours directed against people.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Arson: a clinical study.

Psychiatric, psychosocial and medicolegal issues related to 34 arsonists and 50 controls are described. Arson was most frequently committed by males who suffered from personality disorder, mental retardation or depressive neurosis. Poor school and work records also characterized their background when compared to the control forensic psychiatric patients. The offence more frequently occurred within a one mile radius of their own home in residential property. Revenge or a "cry for help" was the most frequent motivation for the firesetting activity.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

What every professional who works with adolescents needs to know about firesetters.

The number of adolescent firesetters has been growing each year, along with the psychological and financial damage they create. It is therefore essential that mental health professionals who work with adolescents be aware of the characteristics of firesetters. This study describes the individual and environmental factors that relate to the etiology and levels of firesetting. Specifically, it discusses different types of firesetters and their aggressive tendencies, internalizing problems, family dynamics, and sociability. Further, it explores the treatment of adolescent firesetters.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Firesetting in adolescence and being aggressive, shy, and rejected by peers: new epidemiologic evidence from a national sample survey.

This population-based case control study examined the hypothesis that the occurrence of firesetting might be greater in youths who exhibit a combination of shyness and aggressiveness and may be complicated by peer rejection. The study's self-report data were from a nationally representative sample survey conducted in 1995. There were 284 cases involving 12- to 17-year-old youths who self-reported recent firesetting, regardless of their intentions. Control subjects were 4,207 youths with no such history. After subjects were matched according to age and neighborhood, conditional logistic regressions were used for estimation. Moderate to strong associations were observed between firesetting and both shyness and aggressiveness (odds ratio [OR] = 6.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.2-20.4) and feeling highly rejected by peers (OR = 14.5, 95% CI = 3.5-59.6). Independently, boys were 3.8 times more likely to be firesetters (p = .001). Although this cross-sectional study revealed associations of firesetting with shyness and aggressiveness, with evidence of a possibly separate influence of peer rejection, correlation should not be construed as causation. More longitudinal research is needed to clarify temporal sequencing of these characteristics. Prevention trials may indicate whether firesetting can be reduced by amelioration of socially maladaptive behavior and peer rejection as manifested in the child and teenage years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

The children's firesetting interview with psychiatrically referred and nonreferred children.

This study evaluated the Children's Firesetting Interview (CFI). The measure was developed to operationalize multiple domains of functioning derived from a risk-factor model of firesetting. The model poses that child, parent, and family characteristics promote firesetting and continuation of a pattern of firesetting. Major factors include curiosity about fire, involvement in and exposure to fire-related activities, and knowledge about first safety The CFI, consisting of 46 questions reflecting six a priori dimensions, was administered to 519 children (ages 6-13) recruited from nonpatient, outpatient, and inpatient samples. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the measure were satisfactory. Criterion validity was supported by the findings that firesetters showed greater curiosity about fire, involvement in fire-related activities, exposure to models/materials, and knowledge about things that burn than did nonfiresetters. These findings did not vary as a function of the child's patient status or level of antisocial behavior. Implications for the evaluation of firesetting risk are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Factors which predict the persistence of aggressive conduct disorder.

Fifty-three boys with aggressive conduct disorder were followed up 2 years after their original examination. Twenty-four (45%) no longer had the disorder and were classified as improved. A discriminant function analysis identified characteristics of the boys and their families which accurately predicted the outcome for 85% of the boys. Among the predictors of persisting conduct disorder were a variety of antisocial or aggressive symptoms, firesetting, early age of onset and family deviance.

Accident Proneness↗
PubMed1998

Firesetting.

Firesetting results in a significant loss of life and property in the U.S. Child and adolescent firesetting accounts for a large percent of all firesetting occurrences. This article reviews the etiology and prevalence of firesetting in adolescence, presents case studies, and discusses approaches to management, therapy, and prognosis of adolescent firesetters.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Juvenile firesetters: do the agencies help?

In an attempt to find out what was being done for juvenile firesetters in their metropolitan community the authors reviewed the records of the local fire marshal, juvenile court, and psychiatric clinic. They found that the various agencies involved with 69 juveniles over a 3-year period were unable to coordinate their efforts and were largely unsuccessful in controlling the firesetting. Because the families of firesetters seem to have many other social problems, the authors recommend early inpatient assessment and possible referral to foster homes or residential treatment settings for juvenile firesetters.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Two-year prediction of children's firesetting in clinically referred and nonreferred samples.

This study provides the first prospective evaluation of the course and predictors of children's involvement with fire over a 2-year period in 268 nonpatient and patient children (ages 6-13 yrs). Selected predictor variables obtained at initial (intake) assessment, which included fire-specific and general psychosocial measures, were examined in each sample using hierarchical logistic regression. Both samples reported heightened involvement in matchplay and firesetting at follow-up, though the frequency of each behavior was nearly four times higher in patients than in nonpatients. Fifty per cent and 59% of the initial firesetters in the nonpatient and patient samples, respectively, became recidivists. In the nonpatient sample, the child's initial involvement in firesetting and level of covert antisocial behavior were the only psychosocial predictors of follow-up firesetting that added incremental variance beyond demographics. In the patient sample, the child's initial involvement in fire-related acts and level of covert antisocial behavior were the only predictors of follow-up firesetting beyond any initial involvement in matchplay. The findings highlight somewhat different risk factors for subsequent firesetting in nonpatient and patient children, especially prior firesetting and matchplay, respectively, and bear implications for the prevention of firesetting recidivism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

["Pyromania" and arson. A psychiatric and criminologic data analysis].

We analyzed psychiatric and criminological data from 103 arsonists. The following criticisms of the definition of pyromania according to DSM-III-R and IDC-10 seem appropriate. First, the categoric exclusion of aggressive motives does not seem very promising, since approximately one fourth of arsonists whose firesetting is based on motives quoted in DSM-III-R may also have an aggressive motive. Second, ICD-10 gives being drunk and alcoholism as a criterion for the exclusion of pyromania. This seems untenable, since the behavior classed as pyromania is largely a product of alcohol misuse. Repeated firesetting, resulting from being fascinated by fire etc., may be less a disturbance of impulse control but rather the manifestation of a psychoinfantilism, which, supported by alcohol abuse, extends into older age. The mean age of such arsonists is slightly above 20 years. The tendency for relapses after imprisonment seems to be low; this tendency probably decreases spontaneously in older age. The mean age of arsonists with aggressive motives is a little below 30 years, those setting fire with suicidal motives have a mean age of 35, deluded arsonists have a mean age of 40 years. Concrete sexual motives are relatively rare. Approximately 50% of arsonists have a purely aggressive motive. Retaliation is a rare cause, however, since most of them do not even know the victims. One third of these persons set the fire in their own homes. Most arsonists show a personality disorder, with insecurity and narcissism predominating. Data on firesetting are to be treated with caution, since two thirds of all cases are newer resolved; one fourth of cases concern minors, and in Central Europe arsonists with rational motives are hardly ever referred to psychiatrists.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Firesetting during the preschool period: assessment and intervention issues.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a methodology of assessing preschoolers involved in firesetting incidents, and outline the psychiatric implications of firesetting incidents in young children. METHOD: To outline The Arson Prevention Program for Children and present case vignettes. RESULTS: The heightened risk of burn injury or fatality in fires caused by young children is highlighted and practical suggestions for facilitating the immediate safety of the child and family are presented. CONCLUSION: Despite the popular notion that fire interest and play is relatively benign in young children, the cases show that, as with older children, firesetting in preschoolers can be associated with serious child and/or family psychopathology.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗
PubMed1985

Diagnosis and childhood firesetting.

This paper presents findings on the relationship of childhood firesetting and DSM-III diagnosis in a representative sample of child psychiatric outpatients (N = 204). Childhood firesetting and the DSM-III diagnosis of conduct disorder are strongly related; they show a significant interaction effect with lessened competence as measured by activities and increased externalizing (undercontrolled) behavior.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1994

Secondary prevention of childhood firesetting.

OBJECTIVE: The Juvenile Fire Awareness and Intervention Program was established to develop and evaluate an intervention to be offered by fire fighters for children who set fires. METHOD: One hundred thirty-eight children, aged 5 to 16 years, with a history of firesetting participated in a randomized, controlled trial. The intervention involved education about fire safety and a behavior modification program designed to extinguish the desire to set fires through satiation. The frequency and severity of firesetting were recorded for 12 months after the intervention to measure outcome. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in the frequency and severity of firesetting across all groups, with no additional improvement resulting from participation in the fire fighters' intervention. CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence to suggest that the multicomponent program offered by trained fire fighters is effective in reducing firesetting. The marked reduction in firesetting across all groups suggests that fire safety education by the fire fighters is the most appropriate approach to this serious community problem.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Child firesetters: a clinical investigation.

The demographic, symptomatic, psychosocial and diagnostic profile of 104 child firesetters was investigated in a controlled case note and item sheet study of all children referred to an Inner London clinic between 1973 and 1981. Firesetters form a subgroup of severe conduct disorders, and are distinguished by a younger peak age of 8, higher boy/girl ratio and more marked psychosocial disturbance. The paper focuses on the relationships between background factors and firesetting, and also examines the relevance of enuresis and situational antecedents as specific determinants.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Motiveless firesetting: implicating partial limbic seizure kindling by revived memories of fires in "Limbic Psychotic Trigger Reaction".

23 unselected juvenile firesetters (M age 12.0 yr.) consisted of seven with schizophrenia, three with organic mental disorder, six with posttraumatic stress disorder, two with severe mental retardation, and two with conduct disorders. Three previously nondestructive boys (M age 11.0 yr.), all of them loners, did not fit such traditional diagnoses. Their fleeting (c. 20 min.) symptoms included flat affect, autonomic arousal, and delusions or hallucinations. It appeared that their motiveless, unplanned acts were each preceded by a chance encounter with an individualized stimulus which revived the three boys' repeatedly ruminated memories of intermittently experienced merely moderate stresses associated with fire, smoke, or matches. Such a sequence of events is characteristic of seizure kindling. One boy's abnormal EEG was congruent with seizures in the temporal lobe area, which includes the amygdala, i.e., that part of the limbic system particularly susceptible to seizure kindling. The three boys' consistent symptomatology was very similar to that reported for 17 men with bizarre homicidal acts implicating a kindled partial seizure called "Limbic Psychotic Trigger Reaction." In primates, too, similar partial nonconvulsive "behavioral seizures" with psychosis-like symptoms can be elicited through experiential kindling.

Adolescent↗