Arson in Review: From Profit to Pathology

Geller, Jeffrey L.

doi:10.1016/s0193-953x(18)30228-4

Cited by 54 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 107 publications

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“…Further, Ritchie and Huff (1999) concluded that 90% of arsonists had histories of mental health issues. To date there have been only two reviews that focused specifically on firesetting in mentally disordered offenders (Geller, 1992a;Smith & Short, 1995). However, these reviews were conducted over a decade ago and fail to explore the psycho-logical variables of firesetting in mentally disordered offenders that are necessary to guide assessment and treatment.…”

Section: Explanations Of Firesetting In Mentally Disordered Offendersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There has been a substantial amount of research on the frequency and types of psychiatric disorders in firesetters (Anwar et al, 2011;Enayati, Grann, Lubbe & Fazel, 2008;Geller, 1992a;Rice & Harris, 1991), and the literature has mixed findings. Several psychiatric disorders have consistently been found present in firesetters, including depression (O'Sullivan & Kelleher, 1987), schizophrenia (Anwar et al, 2011), mania (Geller, 1987), borderline and antisocial personality disorder (Dolan, Millington, & Park, 2002;Geller, 1987;Geller 1992a;Lindberg et al, 2005), developmental disorders (Bradford, 1982), bipolar disorder (Grant & Kim, 2007), and other psychotic disorders (Koson & Dvoskin, 1982).…”

Section: Psychosis and Psychiatric Diagnosismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Explanations of Firesetting in Mentally Disordered Offenders: A Review of the Literature

Tyler¹,

Gannon²

2012

Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes

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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.

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Section: Explanations Of Firesetting In Mentally Disordered Offendersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Psychosis and Psychiatric Diagnosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Explanations of Firesetting in Mentally Disordered Offenders: A Review of the Literature

Tyler¹,

Gannon²

2012

Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes

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“…In the last 20 years, three general domains have emerged for risk factors associated with fire setting: characteristics of the child, aspects of parenting, and the broader family climate. Among the (Gruber, Heck, & Mintzer, 1981;Jacobson, 1985;Sakheim & Osborn, 1999;Showers & Pickrell, 1987), having higher impulsivity or traits of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Geller, 1992;Sakheim & Osborn, 1986), having social skill deficits and poor peer relations (Kolko, Kazdin, & Meyer, 1985;Sakheim & Osborn, 1999;Sakheim, Osborn, & Abrams, 1991;Sakheim, Vigdor, Gordon, & Helprin, 1985), displaying other conduct problems or antisocial behavior (Heath, Hardesty, Goldfine, & Walker, 1985;Showers & Pickrell, 1987), or having been abused (Jayaprakash, Jung, & Panitch, 1984;Ritvo, Shanok, & Lewis, 1982;Showers & Pickrell, 1987). Parenting factors that have been empirically linked to firesetting behavior include harsh (Jayaprakash et al, 1984) or lax (Kolko & Kazdin, 1990) discipline, lack of parental involvement (Kolko & Kazdin, 1990), less parental acceptance of the child (Kolko & Kazdin, 1990), and limited monitoring and supervision (Kazdin & Kolko, 1986;Kolko & Kazdin, 1990;Sakheim & Osborn, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Domains of risk in the developmental continuity of fire setting

McCarty

McMahon

2005

Behavior Therapy

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Juvenile fire setting is a serious, dangerous, and costly behavior. The majority of research examining youth fire setting has been cross-sectional. We sought to examine early risk attributes that could differentiate fire setters from non-fire setters, in addition to examining their association with the developmental continuity of fire-setting behavior into late childhood. Using a sample of 361 youth drawn from 4 different U.S. communities, this study examined the association between a broad array of risk variables from the child, parent, and family domains, and fire-setting behavior over the course of 2 developmental periods: prior to 4th grade, and between 4th and 6th grade. Youth were classified into I of 4 groups (non-fire setters, desisters, later-onset fire setters, and persisters) based on their reported fire-setting behavior during these periods. Children who set fires had higher levels of risk on most of the variables assessed. Persistence of fire setting was associated with elevated parental depressive symptoms and more interparental conflict and ineffective discipline. The findings highlight the need for multi-component preventive interventions to address the breadth of risk experienced by fire-setting youth and their families.JUVENILE FIRE setting represents a behavior that can become serious, dangerous, and costly. Juveniles are arrested for a greater share of arsons than any other type of crime, accounting for 50% of the fire-setting offenders, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (U.S. Department of Justice, 1999). Additionally, fire setting may be a marker of more seriously disturbed youth, as fire-setting youth tend to exhibit a variety of aggressive and antisocial acts (Stickle & Blechman, 2002). Youth who are actually adjudicated for arson have increased probability of being placed in a residential treatment facility. Even preadolescent youth represent a large proportion of fire setters who have caused serious damage; for example, over one-third of the juvenile arson arrests in 1997 involved children age 12 or younger (U.S. Department of Justice, 1999).Despite the lack of strong theory in this area, knowledge about fire setting has been greatly advanced through the research and conceptual framework developed by Kazdin (e.g., 1985, 1992), most of which has focused on youth between the ages of 6 and 13. In the last 20 years, three general domains have emerged for risk factors associated with fire setting: characteristics of the child, aspects of parenting, and the broader family climate. Among the (Gruber, Heck, & Mintzer, 1981;Jacobson, 1985;Sakheim & Osborn, 1999;Showers & Pickrell, 1987), having higher impulsivity or traits of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Geller, 1992;Sakheim & Osborn, 1986), having social skill deficits and poor peer relations (Kolko, Kazdin, & Meyer, 1985;Sakheim & Osborn, 1999;Sakheim, Osborn, & Abrams, 1991;Sakheim, Vigdor, Gordon, & Helprin, 1985), displaying other conduct problems or antisocial behavior (Heath, Hardesty, Goldfin...

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“…The association of violence and aggressivity is well described in adults with thyrotoxieosis. Cases of fire-setting have been previously reported in association with several medical and neurological disorders including epilepsy, head trauma, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, CNS malignancies, hypoglycemia, Asperger's disorder, and Klinefelter's syndrome (Geller 1992, Meinhard et al 1992. We suggest that thyrotoxieosis may be added to the list of medical conditions that, in susceptible individuals, can trigger pathological fire-setting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Aggressive Behavior and Fire-Setting in a 4-Year-Old Boy Associated with Ingestion of Ground Beef Contaminated with Bovine Thyroid Tissue: A Case Report and Review of Neuropsychiatrie Findings in Pediatric Thyrotoxicosis

Bhatara¹,

McMillin²,

Kummer³

1995

Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology

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An epidemic of thyrotoxieosis in 1984-1985 was traced to the ingestion of ground beef that was contaminated by bovine thyroid tissue in the tri-state area of Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa. This article describes a case of possible thyrotoxicosis-induced violent aggressiveness and firesetting in a 4-year-old boy affected by this epidemic. Although psychosocial factors were initially considered primary, dietary factors eventually proven to be etiologic. This child showed spontaneous decreases in violent behavior during two admissions to a hospital (where thyroid-laced beef was not available) and recurrences with returning home (where he ate contaminated ground beef). A literature review on neuropsychiatrie manifestations of pédiatrie thyrotoxieosis revealed that thyrotoxieosis in children may present with subtle symptoms (new onset of ADHD, drop in school grades) or overt neuropsychiatrie disorders (anxiety, mood, cognitive or psychotic disorders). However, the literature did not appear to have revealed previous reports of violent aggressiveness or firesetting in children. Our case suggests that thyrotoxieosis is able to induce or exacerbate behavioral deterioration, including marked aggressivity, in susceptible children. Clinicians should watch for thyrotoxieosis, which may occur without thyroid disease for a variety of reasons. Delayed treatment can result in enduring physical, cognitive, and emotional disturbances.

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Arson in Review: From Profit to Pathology

Cited by 54 publications

References 107 publications

Explanations of Firesetting in Mentally Disordered Offenders: A Review of the Literature

Explanations of Firesetting in Mentally Disordered Offenders: A Review of the Literature

Domains of risk in the developmental continuity of fire setting

Aggressive Behavior and Fire-Setting in a 4-Year-Old Boy Associated with Ingestion of Ground Beef Contaminated with Bovine Thyroid Tissue: A Case Report and Review of Neuropsychiatrie Findings in Pediatric Thyrotoxicosis

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