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“Fire does. Fire is.” Pyromania

“Fire does. Fire is.” Pyromania. Alex Mardlin Psychology. Essential Features. Deliberate fire setting on multiple occasions Not for money, anger, or to cover up a crime Not caused by delusion, hallucination, etc. Fascination with and attraction to fire Anxiety before setting a fire

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“Fire does. Fire is.” Pyromania

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  1. “Fire does. Fire is.” Pyromania Alex Mardlin Psychology

  2. Essential Features • Deliberate fire setting on multiple occasions • Not for money, anger, or to cover up a crime • Not caused by delusion, hallucination, etc. • Fascination with and attraction to fire • Anxiety before setting a fire • Relieved after the fire is set (Raahat, 2011)

  3. Associated Features • Generally younger • Generally men • Isolated from community and family • Running away from home • Sexual perversions (Raahat, 2011)

  4. Axis • Axis I disorder • Impulse control disorder • No elsewhere classified • Clinical Disorder • Acute symptoms and need treatment (Axis I, 2013) (American Psychiatric Association, 2000)

  5. Causes for Fascination • Simply enjoy fire for what it is • Fascinated with how it breaths, feeds, grows • Almost like it is alive • Craving for power (Raahat, 2011)

  6. Case Study • 20-year-old homeless man named “JO” • Normal characteristics of a pyromaniac • Isolated from family/community • As a child • Set a barn on fire • Admitted to “laughing while setting individuals on fire with lighter fluid” (Parks, 2005)

  7. Case Study • Cognitively impaired (mental status exam) • Short term memory and concentration • Delusions of people talking about and mocking him • Not related to pyromania • Animated while discussing violent topics • Common features found with pyromania (Parks, 2005)

  8. Case Study • Sexual perversions and impropriety • Comments toward female staff • CAT scan, EEG scan • Two seizures while at the ward • MRI examination, treated with anticonvulsant, no seizures (Parks, 2005)

  9. Case Study • Five-month follow-up neuropsychological • Visuospatial and language skills did not improve • Excelled at mental status exam • Fewer fire setting incidents over five months • Living independently • After three years, no fire setting incidents (Parks, 2005)

  10. Diagnostic Criteria • Set a fire on more than one occasion • Deliberately and purposefully • Tension or stress before setting a fire • Fascination with fire • Experience pleasure,satisfaction, and/or relief after setting fire (Pyromania, 2013)

  11. Diagnostic Criteria • Not set fires for monetary gain • Not revenge, cover up a crime, or hallucination • Not due to any other disorder • Conduct disorders • Manic episode • Antisocial personality disorder (Pyromania, 2013)

  12. Differential Diagnosis • Arson • This is for profit or monetary gain • Normal adolescence • Many children are fascinated by fire • Other general misbehavior disorders • Acting out consistently • Not just by setting fires (Symptoms, 2013)

  13. Treatments • Most involve behavioral • Pharmacologic • Antidepressants • Compared to other impulse control disorders • More behavioral than pharmacologic (Freudenrich, 2013)

  14. Conclusion • Debate between psychiatrists and psychologists whether pyromania is even a disorder • Some believe it is biological • Still undetermined (Freudenrich, 2013)

  15. AnyQuestions?

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