Pyromania: Difference between revisions
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==Etiology== |
==Etiology== |
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There is little known about this impulse control disorder, except some research suggesting there is an environmental component arising in early childhood.<ref name = "Psych">{{cite web | author=| year=2003| title= Psychiatric Disorders:Pyromania | format=| work=All Psych Online | url=http://allpsych.com/disorders/impulse_control/pyromania.html| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> |
There is little known about this impulse control disorder, except some research suggesting there is an environmental component arising in early childhood.<ref name = "Psych">{{cite web | author=| year=2003| title= Psychiatric Disorders:Pyromania | format=| work=All Psych Online | url=http://allpsych.com/disorders/impulse_control/pyromania.html| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> |
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Few scientifically rigorous studies have been done on the subject, but psychosocial hypotheses suggest pyromania may be a form of communication from those with few social skills, or an ungratified sexuality for which setting fires is a symbolic solution. Medical research also suggests a possible link to reactive [[hypoglycemia]] or a decreased concentration of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the cerebrospinal fluid.<ref>{{cite web | author=| year=March 5th, 2004| title=Pyromania | format=| work=eMedicine.com | url=http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3485.htm| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> |
Few scientifically rigorous studies have been done on the subject, but psychosocial hypotheses suggest pyromania may be a form of communication from those with few social skills, or an ungratified sexuality for which setting fires is a symbolic solution. Medical research also suggests a possible link to reactive [[hypoglycemia]] or a decreased concentration of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the cerebrospinal fluid.<ref>{{cite web | author=| year=March 5th, 2004| title=Pyromania | format=| work=eMedicine.com | url=http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3485.htm| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> Other studies have linked pyromania to child abuse.<ref name= "Gale">{{cite web | author=Gale Research| year= 1998.| title= Impulse Control Disorders | format=| work=Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood & Adolescence | url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2602/is_0003/ai_2602000316| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> |
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==Symptoms== |
==Symptoms and diagnosis== |
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Pyromaniacs are known to have feelings of sadness and loneliness, followed by rage, which leads to the setting of fires as an outlet.<ref name= "Gale">{{cite web | author=Gale Research| year= 1998.| title= Impulse Control Disorders | format=| work=Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood & Adolescence | url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2602/is_0003/ai_2602000316| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> |
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For a positive diagnosis, there must be purposeful setting of fire on at least two occasions. There is tension or arousal prior to the act, and gratification or relief when it is over. It is done for its own sake, and not for any other motivation.<ref>{{cite web | author=| year=July 21st, 2003| title= Pyromania (firestarting)| format=| work=PsychNet-UK| url=http://www.psychnet-uk.com/dsm_iv/pyromania.htm| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> It is all about the pleasure of seeing what other people have to do to extinguish the fire, and the pyromaniac may enjoy reading of the effects of what they have done. <ref name= "Gale">{{cite web | author=Gale Research| year= 1998.| title= Impulse Control Disorders | format=| work=Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood & Adolescence | url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2602/is_0003/ai_2602000316| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> |
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==Incidence and demographics== |
==Incidence and demographics== |
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Pyromania is a very rare disorder, and the incident of it is less than one percent in most studies; also, pyromaniacs are a very small proportion of psychiatric hospital admissions.<ref>{{cite web | author=| year=March 1st, 2005| title= The arsonist's mind: part 2 - pyromania | format=| work=Australian Government:Australian Institute of Criminology| url=http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/bfab/bfab009.html| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> Pyromania can occur in children as young as age three, but it is rare in people and rarer in children. Only a small percentage of children and adolescents arrested for arson have pyromania. Ninety percent of those diagnosed with Pyromania are male.<ref>{{cite web | author=Gale Research| year= 1998.| title= Impulse Control Disorders | format=| work=Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood & Adolescence | url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2602/is_0003/ai_2602000316| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> |
Pyromania is a very rare disorder, and the incident of it is less than one percent in most studies; also, pyromaniacs are a very small proportion of psychiatric hospital admissions.<ref>{{cite web | author=| year=March 1st, 2005| title= The arsonist's mind: part 2 - pyromania | format=| work=Australian Government:Australian Institute of Criminology| url=http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/bfab/bfab009.html| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> Pyromania can occur in children as young as age three, but it is rare in people and rarer in children. Only a small percentage of children and adolescents arrested for arson have pyromania. Ninety percent of those diagnosed with Pyromania are male.<ref name= "Gale">{{cite web | author=Gale Research| year= 1998.| title= Impulse Control Disorders | format=| work=Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood & Adolescence | url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2602/is_0003/ai_2602000316| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> |
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Based on a survey of 9282 Americans using the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual on Mental Disorders, 4th edition, impulse-control problems such as gambling and pyromania affect 9% of the population.<ref>{{cite web | author=Alspach, Grif| year=August, 2005| title= 1-2-3-4 … mental illness out the door? | format=| work=Critical Care Nurse| url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NUC/is_4_25/ai_n15727483| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> And a 1979 study by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration found that only 14 percent of fires were started by pyromaniacs and other with mental illness.<ref>{{cite web | author=Smith, Thomas E.| year=October 1st, 1999| title= The Risk of Fire - Statistical Data Included| format=| work=Risk & Insurance| url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BJK/is_1999_Oct_1/ai_59328554| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> |
Based on a survey of 9282 Americans using the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual on Mental Disorders, 4th edition, impulse-control problems such as gambling and pyromania affect 9% of the population.<ref>{{cite web | author=Alspach, Grif| year=August, 2005| title= 1-2-3-4 … mental illness out the door? | format=| work=Critical Care Nurse| url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NUC/is_4_25/ai_n15727483| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> And a 1979 study by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration found that only 14 percent of fires were started by pyromaniacs and other with mental illness.<ref>{{cite web | author=Smith, Thomas E.| year=October 1st, 1999| title= The Risk of Fire - Statistical Data Included| format=| work=Risk & Insurance| url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BJK/is_1999_Oct_1/ai_59328554| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> |
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==Treatment== |
==Treatment== |
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[[Behavior modification]] is the usual treatment for pyromania. Other treatments include seeing the patients actions as an unconscious process and analyzing it to help the patient extinguish the behavior. The prognosis for treatment is generally fair to poor.<ref name = "Psych">{{cite web | author=| year=2003| title= Psychiatric Disorders:Pyromania | format=| work=All Psych Online | url=http://allpsych.com/disorders/impulse_control/pyromania.html| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> |
[[Behavior modification]] is the usual treatment for pyromania. Other treatments include seeing the patients actions as an unconscious process and analyzing it to help the patient extinguish the behavior. The prognosis for treatment is generally fair to poor.<ref name = "Psych">{{cite web | author=| year=2003| title= Psychiatric Disorders:Pyromania | format=| work=All Psych Online | url=http://allpsych.com/disorders/impulse_control/pyromania.html| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> Treatment appears to work in 95% of children that exhibit signs of pyromania, which include family therapy and community intervention. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are also used to treat this condition.<ref name= "Gale">{{cite web | author=Gale Research| year= 1998.| title= Impulse Control Disorders | format=| work=Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood & Adolescence | url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2602/is_0003/ai_2602000316| accessdate=2006-06-15}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 20:59, 18 June 2006
- For the album by Def Leppard, see Pyromania (album)
Pyromania is an obsession with fire and starting fires in an intentional fashion. In colloquial English, the synonym "firebug" or "firestarter" is sometimes used. Pyromaniacs are identified specifically as not having any other symptoms but obsession with fire causing their behavior. It is distinct from arson, and pyromaniacs are also distinct from those who start fires because of psychoses, for personal, monetary or political gain, or for acts of revenge. Pyromaniacs start fires to induce euphoria, and often tend to fixate on institutions of fire control: fire stations, firefighters, etc.
History
Starting in 1850, there have been many arguements as to the cause of pyromania. Whether the condition arises from mental illness or a moral deficiency has changed depending on the development of psychiatry and mental healthcare in general.[1]
Etiology
There is little known about this impulse control disorder, except some research suggesting there is an environmental component arising in early childhood.[2] Few scientifically rigorous studies have been done on the subject, but psychosocial hypotheses suggest pyromania may be a form of communication from those with few social skills, or an ungratified sexuality for which setting fires is a symbolic solution. Medical research also suggests a possible link to reactive hypoglycemia or a decreased concentration of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the cerebrospinal fluid.[3] Other studies have linked pyromania to child abuse.[4]
Symptoms and diagnosis
Pyromaniacs are known to have feelings of sadness and loneliness, followed by rage, which leads to the setting of fires as an outlet.[4]
For a positive diagnosis, there must be purposeful setting of fire on at least two occasions. There is tension or arousal prior to the act, and gratification or relief when it is over. It is done for its own sake, and not for any other motivation.[5] It is all about the pleasure of seeing what other people have to do to extinguish the fire, and the pyromaniac may enjoy reading of the effects of what they have done. [4]
Incidence and demographics
Pyromania is a very rare disorder, and the incident of it is less than one percent in most studies; also, pyromaniacs are a very small proportion of psychiatric hospital admissions.[6] Pyromania can occur in children as young as age three, but it is rare in people and rarer in children. Only a small percentage of children and adolescents arrested for arson have pyromania. Ninety percent of those diagnosed with Pyromania are male.[4]
Based on a survey of 9282 Americans using the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual on Mental Disorders, 4th edition, impulse-control problems such as gambling and pyromania affect 9% of the population.[7] And a 1979 study by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration found that only 14 percent of fires were started by pyromaniacs and other with mental illness.[8]
Treatment
Behavior modification is the usual treatment for pyromania. Other treatments include seeing the patients actions as an unconscious process and analyzing it to help the patient extinguish the behavior. The prognosis for treatment is generally fair to poor.[2] Treatment appears to work in 95% of children that exhibit signs of pyromania, which include family therapy and community intervention. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are also used to treat this condition.[4]
References
- ^ Geller JL, Erlen J, Pinkus RL (1986). "A historical appraisal of America's experience with "pyromania"--a diagnosis in search of a disorder". National Institutes of Health. Retrieved 2006-06-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Psychiatric Disorders:Pyromania". All Psych Online. 2003. Retrieved 2006-06-15.
- ^ "Pyromania". eMedicine.com. March 5th, 2004. Retrieved 2006-06-15.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|year=(help) - ^ a b c d e Gale Research (1998.). "Impulse Control Disorders". Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood & Adolescence. Retrieved 2006-06-15.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|year=(help) - ^ "Pyromania (firestarting)". PsychNet-UK. July 21st, 2003. Retrieved 2006-06-15.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|year=(help) - ^ "The arsonist's mind: part 2 - pyromania". Australian Government:Australian Institute of Criminology. March 1st, 2005. Retrieved 2006-06-15.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|year=(help) - ^ Alspach, Grif (August, 2005). "1-2-3-4 … mental illness out the door?". Critical Care Nurse. Retrieved 2006-06-15.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|year=(help) - ^ Smith, Thomas E. (October 1st, 1999). "The Risk of Fire - Statistical Data Included". Risk & Insurance. Retrieved 2006-06-15.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|year=(help)