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Chapter 44.Pyromania

Edited by:
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9781585625048.gg44

Sections

Distinguishing Pyromania From Other Fire-Setting Behaviors | Neurobiological and Neurophysiological Bases of ICDs and Pyromania | Pharmacotherapy | Psychosocial Treatments | Conclusion

Excerpt

Pyromania is a disorder in which the individual sets fires to reduce tension or to obtain and then reduce affective arousal. It can cause the sufferer significant distress, shame, and dysfunction (Grant and Won Kim 2007) and characteristically has great psychological comorbidity (Hollander et al. 2008; Grant and Won Kim 2007). Pyromania is distinguished from fire setting, which is a behavior, and arson, which is a criminal act (Burton et al. 2012). Most fire-setting behavior is not related to pyromania. In one study of 90 arsonists, only 3.3% had pyromania; several other subjects met the criteria for pyromania only when setting fires while intoxicated (Lindberg et al. 2005).

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