Pyromania
Encyclopedia
Pyromania in more extreme circumstances can be an impulse control disorder to deliberately start fires
to relieve tension or for gratification or relief. The term pyromania comes from the Greek word πῦρ ('pyr', fire). Pyromania and pyromaniacs are distinct from arson
, the pursuit of personal, monetary or political gain, or the intent to inflict harm for advantage or revenge
. Pyromaniacs start fires to induce euphoria
, and often fixate on institutions of fire control like fire stations
and firefighters. Pyromania is a type of impulse control disorder
.
, 4th edition, impulse-control problems such as gambling, pyromania and compulsive shopping collectively affect 9% of the population . A 1979 study by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration
found that only 14% of fires were started by pyromaniacs and others with mental illness .
Common synonyms
for pyromaniacs in colloquial English include firebug and firestarter.
and 18% are nonviolent sexual offenders
. Other causes may include the seeking of attention from authorities or parents and resolving social issues such as bullying or lack of friends
. Another cause may be that the patient is subconsciously seeking revenge
for something that has occurred in the past .
from parents and physical or sexual abuse
in earlier life. Other causes include early experiences of watching adults or adolescents using fire inappropriately and lighting fires as a stress reliever .
. 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 .
sessions in which the patient’s situation is diagnosed to find out what may have caused this impulsive behaviour. Once the situation is diagnosed then repeated therapy sessions usually help continue to a recovery .
Pyromania is generally harder to treat in adults, often due to lack of cooperation by the patient. Treatment usually consists of medication to prevent stress or emotional outbursts in addition to long-term psychotherapy
.
The prognosis for recovery in adolescents and children who suffer from pyromania depends on the environmental or individual factors involved, but is generally positive. In adults, however, the recovery rate is generally poor and if an adult does recover it usually takes a longer period of time .
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
to relieve tension or for gratification or relief. The term pyromania comes from the Greek word πῦρ ('pyr', fire). Pyromania and pyromaniacs are distinct from arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
, the pursuit of personal, monetary or political gain, or the intent to inflict harm for advantage or revenge
Revenge
Revenge is a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. It is also called payback, retribution, retaliation or vengeance; it may be characterized, justly or unjustly, as a form of justice.-Function in society:Some societies believe that the...
. Pyromaniacs start fires to induce euphoria
Euphoria (emotion)
Euphoria is medically recognized as a mental and emotional condition in which a person experiences intense feelings of well-being, elation, happiness, ecstasy, excitement and joy...
, and often fixate on institutions of fire control like fire stations
Fire station
A fire station is a structure or other area set aside for storage of firefighting apparatus , personal protective equipment, fire hose, fire extinguishers, and other fire extinguishing equipment...
and firefighters. Pyromania is a type of impulse control disorder
Impulse control disorder
Impulse control disorder is a set of psychiatric disorders including intermittent explosive disorder, kleptomania, pathological gambling, pyromania , and three body-focused repetitive or compulsive behaviors of trichotillomania , onychophagia and dermatillomania...
.
Epidemiology
Pyromania is a rare disorder with an incidence of less than one percent in most studies; also, pyromaniacs are a very small proportion of psychiatric hospital admissions . Pyromania can occur in children as young as age three, though such cases are rare. Only a small percentage of children and adolescents arrested for arson are child pyromaniacs. Ninety percent of those diagnosed with pyromania are male . Based on a survey of 9,282 Americans using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is published by the American Psychiatric Association and provides a common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders...
, 4th edition, impulse-control problems such as gambling, pyromania and compulsive shopping collectively affect 9% of the population . A 1979 study by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration
Law Enforcement Assistance Administration
The Law Enforcement Assistance Administration was a U.S. federal agency within the U.S. Dept. of Justice. It administered federal funding to state and local law enforcement agencies, and funded educational programs, research, state planning agencies, and local crime initiatives.The LEAA was...
found that only 14% of fires were started by pyromaniacs and others with mental illness .
Common synonyms
Synonym
Synonyms are different words with almost identical or similar meanings. Words that are synonyms are said to be synonymous, and the state of being a synonym is called synonymy. The word comes from Ancient Greek syn and onoma . The words car and automobile are synonyms...
for pyromaniacs in colloquial English include firebug and firestarter.
Causes
Most studied cases of pyromania occur in children and adolescents and 90% of all pyromania cases are male . 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.Individual
Individual factors that can lead to pyromania mainly deal with personal issues in someone's life. This category includes adolescents who have committed crimes in the past. For example, 19% of adolescents suffering from pyromania have been charged with vandalismVandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
and 18% are nonviolent sexual offenders
Sex and the law
In general, laws proscribe acts which are considered either sexual abuse, or behavior that societies consider to be inappropriate and against the social norms. In addition, certain categories of activity may be considered crimes even if freely consented to...
. Other causes may include the seeking of attention from authorities or parents and resolving social issues such as bullying or lack of friends
Loneliness
Loneliness is an unpleasant feeling in which a person feels a strong sense of emptiness and solitude resulting from inadequate levels of social relationships. However, it is a subjective experience...
. Another cause may be that the patient is subconsciously seeking revenge
Revenge
Revenge is a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. It is also called payback, retribution, retaliation or vengeance; it may be characterized, justly or unjustly, as a form of justice.-Function in society:Some societies believe that the...
for something that has occurred in the past .
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 neglectNeglect
Neglect is a passive form of abuse in which a perpetrator is responsible to provide care for a victim who is unable to care for himself or herself, but fails to provide adequate care....
from parents and physical or sexual abuse
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
in earlier life. Other causes include early experiences of watching adults or adolescents using fire inappropriately and lighting fires as a stress reliever .
Symptoms
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 suffering from 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 suffering from pyromania gains intense interest or fascination and may also experience pleasure, gratification or relief . Another symptom often linked with pyromania is the buildup of stressChronic stress
Chronic stress is the response to emotional pressure suffered for a prolonged period over which an individual perceives he or she has no control. It involves an endocrine system response in which occurs a release of corticosteroids...
. 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 .
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 behavioural therapyCognitive therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach: a talking therapy. CBT aims to solve problems concerning dysfunctional emotions, behaviors and cognitions through a goal-oriented, systematic procedure in the present...
sessions in which the patient’s situation is diagnosed to find out what may have caused this impulsive behaviour. Once the situation is diagnosed then repeated therapy sessions usually help continue to a recovery .
Pyromania is generally harder to treat in adults, often due to lack of cooperation by the patient. Treatment usually consists of medication to prevent stress or emotional outbursts in addition to long-term psychotherapy
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
.
The prognosis for recovery in adolescents and children who suffer from pyromania depends on the environmental or individual factors involved, but is generally positive. In adults, however, the recovery rate is generally poor and if an adult does recover it usually takes a longer period of time .
Prevention
Pyromania is best prevented by parents taking the time to educate their children on fire safety and the dangers of fires. Parents should also keep all fire lighting devices out of reach of children and any teenagers to reduce the risk of their starting any fires .Related topics
- Child pyromaniacChild pyromaniacA child pyromaniac is a child with an impulse-control disorder that is primarily distinguished by a compulsion to set fires in order to relieve built-up tension....
- Pyrophobia - The hatred and/or fear of fire.
- PyrophiliaPyrophiliaPyrophilia is a relatively uncommon paraphilia in which the patient derives gratification from fire and fire-starting activity. It is distinguished from pyromania by the gratification being of a sexual nature.-Description:...
- impulse control disorderImpulse control disorderImpulse control disorder is a set of psychiatric disorders including intermittent explosive disorder, kleptomania, pathological gambling, pyromania , and three body-focused repetitive or compulsive behaviors of trichotillomania , onychophagia and dermatillomania...
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-IV)Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersThe Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is published by the American Psychiatric Association and provides a common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders...
External links
- University of Minnesota Impulse Control Disorders Clinic Provides useful information and resources for patients and their families, including free questionnaire-based rating scales that patients can use to assess and track the severity of their condition.
- Why Thomas Sweatt Set Washington On Fire