Pyromania

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

This article is about the disorder. For other uses, see Pyromania (disambiguation).
"Pyromaniac" redirects here. For the film, see Pyromaniac (film).
Pyromania
Garbage container vandalised by arson, the end result of pyromaniac delinquency
SpecialtyPsychiatry, clinical psychology
SymptomsImpulsive starting of fires
CausesParental neglect, early physical or emotional abuse, early observation of inappropriate fire usage
PreventionCareful parental attention

Pyromania is an

impulse control disorder in which individuals repeatedly fail to resist impulses to deliberately start fires,[1] to relieve some tension or for instant gratification. The term pyromania comes from the Greek word πῦρ (pyr, 'fire'). Pyromania is distinct from arson, the deliberate setting of fires for personal, monetary or political gain.[2] Pyromaniacs start fires to release anxiety and tension, or for arousal.[3] Other impulse disorders include kleptomania and intermittent explosive disorder
.

There are specific symptoms that separate pyromaniacs from those who start fires for criminal purposes or due to emotional motivations not specifically related to fire. Someone with this disorder deliberately and purposely sets fires on more than one occasion, and before the act of lighting the fire the person usually experiences tension and an emotional buildup. When around fires, a person with pyromania gains intense interest or fascination and may also experience pleasure, gratification or relief.[4] Another long term contributor often linked with pyromania is the buildup of stress. When studying the lifestyle of someone with pyromania, a buildup of stress and emotion is often evident and this is seen in teens' attitudes towards friends and family.[5] At times it is difficult to distinguish the difference between pyromania and experimentation in childhood because both involve pleasure from the fire.[6]

Classification

ICD

The World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases (11th Revision) ICD-11, regarded as the global standard, was released in June 2018 and came into full effect from January 2022.[7][8] It states the following about pyromania:[9]

Pyromania is characterised by a recurrent failure to control strong impulses to set fires, resulting in multiple acts of, or attempts at, setting fire to property or other objects, in the absence of an apparent motive (e.g., monetary gain, revenge, sabotage, political statement, attracting attention or recognition). There is an increasing sense of tension or affective arousal prior to instances of fire setting, persistent fascination or preoccupation with fire and related stimuli (e.g., watching fires, building fires, fascination with firefighting equipment), and a sense of pleasure, excitement, relief or gratification during, and immediately after the act of setting the fire, witnessing its effects, or participating in its aftermath.

— ICD-11, chapter 6, section C70

It also notes that pyromania has no relation to

DSM-5-TR from 2022, DSM-5 from 2013, or their predecessors)[8]

DSM

The

Third Edition, it returned under the category of impulse-control disorders.[10]

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), released in 2022, states that the essential feature of pyromania is "the presence of multiple episodes of deliberate and purposeful fire setting."

DSM-4 chapter "Impulse-Control Disorders Not Otherwise Specified," to the chapter "Disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders" in DSM-5.[12]

Causes

Most studied cases of pyromania occur in children and teenagers.[5] There is a range of causes, but an understanding of the different motives and actions of fire setters can provide a platform for prevention. Common causes of pyromania can be broken down into two main groups: individual and environmental. This includes the complex understanding of factors such as individual temperament, parental psychopathology, and possible neurochemical predispositions.[13] Many studies have shown that patients with pyromania were in households without a father figure present.[14]

Pyromania can be common in those with substance use disorders, problem gambling, mood disorders, disruptive behaviour, anti-social disorders, and/or another impulse-control disorder.[9]

Environmental

Environmental factors that may lead to pyromania include an event that the patient has experienced in the environment they live in. Environmental factors include neglect from parents and physical or emotional abuse in earlier life. Other causes include early experiences of watching adults or teenagers using fire inappropriately and lighting fires as a stress reliever.[4]

Treatment and prognosis

The appropriate treatment for pyromania varies with the age of the patient and the seriousness of the condition. For children and adolescents treatment usually is cognitive behavioral therapy sessions in which the patient's situation is diagnosed to find out what may have caused this impulsive behavior. Once the situation is diagnosed, repeated therapy sessions usually help continue to a recovery.[4] Other important steps must be taken as well with the interventions and the cause of the impulse behavior. Some other treatments include parenting training, over-correction/satiation/negative practice with corrective consequences, behavior contracting/token reinforcement, special problem-solving skills training, relaxation training, covert sensitization, fire safety and prevention education, individual and family therapy, and medication.[13] The prognosis for recovery in adolescents and children with pyromania depends on the environmental or individual factors in play, but is generally positive. Pyromania is generally harder to treat in adults, often due to lack of cooperation by the patient. Treatment usually consists of more medication to prevent stress or emotional outbursts, in addition to long-term psychotherapy.[4] In adults, however, the recovery rate is generally poor, and if an adult does recover, it usually takes a longer period of time.[4]

History

Pyromania was thought in the 1800s to be a concept involved with

child pyromaniacs. A preponderance of the individuals are male;[17] one source states that ninety percent of those diagnosed with pyromania are male.[5] Based on a survey of 9,282 Americans using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, impulse-control problems such as gambling, pyromania and compulsive shopping collectively affect 9% of the population.[18] A 1979 study by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration found that only 14% of fires were started by pyromaniacs and others with mental illness.[19] A 1951 study by Lewis and Yarnell, one of the largest epidemiological studies conducted, found that 39% of those who had intentionally set fires had been diagnosed with pyromania.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Pyromania | BehaveNet". behavenet.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  2. ISBN 9781585622573
    .
  3. ^ "What Is Pyromania?". WebMD.com. Internet Brands. 22 June 2021. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e Frey, Rebecca J. (2003). Pyromania. Vol. 2. pp. 802–806. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  5. ^ a b c "Impulse Control Disorders". Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood & Adolescence. Gale Research. 1998.
  6. ISBN 978-1-58562-068-5. Archived
    from the original on 25 September 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  7. ^ "WHO releases new International Classification of Diseases (ICD 11)". World Health Organization (Press Release). Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  8. ^ a b Pickett D, Anderson RN (18 July 2018). Status on ICD-11: The WHO Launch (PDF) (Report). CDC/NCHS.
  9. ^ a b c ICD-11.
  10. ^ Antonino, Cristiano (4 May 2022). "Pyromania: ICD-11 Classification, Causes, Symptoms, Characteristics, Risks, Treatment, Medication". emergency-live.com. Emergency Live. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  11. ISBN 978-0-89042-555-8
    .
  12. ^ "Highlights of Changes from DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5" (PDF). American Psychiatric Association. 17 May 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2015.
  13. ^
    doi:10.3928/0048-5713-19920201-10
    .
  14. ISBN 9780781787468
    . Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  15. ^ "ARSON: WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO PYROMANIA". 1 January 1967. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  16. ^ "The arsonist's mind: part 2 – pyromania". Australian Institute of Criminology. 1 March 2005. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  17. ^ Barker, A.F. (1994). Arson: A Review of the Psychiatric Literature. Oxford University Press.
  18. PMID 16034028
    . Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  19. ^ Smith, Thomas E. (1 October 1999). "The Risk of Fire – Statistical Data Included". Risk & Insurance.
  20. ISBN 9781585622573
    .

External links

Look up pyromania in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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