Psychiatric Aspects of Arsonists

Abstract

Arson is a major source of property damage, injury and death in the United States. Many people who commit arson have extensive psychiatric histories and symptoms at the time of their fire-setting. However, traditionally the law enforcement community and the mental health community have not shared information about the characteristics of people who set fires. This study examined mental health records and/or prison files from 283 arsonists. 90% of arsonists had recorded mental health histories, and of those 36% had the major mental illness of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. 64% were abusing alcohol or drugs at the time of their firesetting. Pyromania was only diagnosed in three of the 283 cases. Different motives for setting fires are discussed: many patients were both angry and delusional. A survey instrument, which captures both psychiatric and legal data, is included. Suggestions are made for gathering future “profiling” information. A matrix approach to coding diagnosis and behavior is presented.

The Multi-Trajectory Theory of Adult Firesetting (M-TTAF)

“…Evidence does suggest that some firesetters are lonely individuals characterized by impoverished networks of social support (Barracato, 1979;Bennett & Hess, 1984;Inciardi, 1970;Leong, 1992;Rice & Harris, 1991;Ritchie & Huff, 1999). Thus, in the absence of appropriate social and communication skills, individuals may feel isolated, and disconnected from the society in which they live, and unable to fulfill their needs in socially appropriate ways.…”

“…Such individuals are also likely to have been socialized within an antisocial pro-criminal environment. Research suggests that generally antisocial individuals engage in firesetting as one of a series of criminal behaviors throughout their criminal career Ritchie & Huff, 1999). As such, this group of firesetters will be least likely to hold numerous firesetting convictions and may be more prevalent in male firesetters (see…”

Firesetting: Psychopathology, theory and treatment

“…Generally, male firesetters admitted for psychiatric evaluation appear similar to other criminals on factors such as low economic status, poor education, and unskilled employment (Doley, 2003a;Hurley & Monahan, 1969;Rice & Harris, 1991;RŠsŠnen, Hirvenoja, Hakko, & VŠisŠnen, 1995;Ritchie & Huff, 1999Wolford, 1972 non-firesetting criminals (Hurley & Monahan 1969;Rice & Harris, 1991). Other researchers have suggested that firesetters may be characterized by lower IQ levels relative to nonfiresetting criminals (Lewis & Yarnell, 1951;Rice & Harris, 1991). …”

Towards a Forensic Psychological Evaluation of Juvenile Fire Setters: Parent Power

“…For example, mentally ill fire setters are more likely than non-mentally ill fire setters to have prior convictions for fire setting [12]. Alcoholism and substance abuse are also found in this JFS group [13][14][15][16].…”