Description and Diagnosis
Pyromania is one of the DSM-5 disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders. Pyromania is characterized by the inability to resist carrying out fire setting, despite potentially negative or harmful consequences. The presence of several episodes of intentional and purposeful fire setting characterize this disorder. Individuals with this disorder usually experience emotional arousal and tension prior to the act of setting a fire. Individuals with pyromania have a fascination with, interest in, or attraction to fire in several contexts (e.g., paraphernalia and consequences). They may set off fire alarms in stores and schools. Individuals with pyromania often take pleasure in anything associated with fires (e.g., fire departments and fire equipment). Individuals with pyromania repeatedly fail to resist impulses to intentionally start fires. The act of an individual who deliberately starts fires often relieves tension and instant gratification. Another characteristic of this disorder is to induce euphoria. Often, pyromaniacs fixate on institutions of fire control …show more content…
Most children between the age of 5 and 10 years of age do not understand the dangers and consequences of playing with fire. Children who are pathological fire setters exhibit the following features. Some children may set fires as a cry for help. They may be neglected or ignored by their caretakers, suffering from depression, or have been sexually abused. Other children who set fires may be severely disturbed. These individuals are often diagnosed as either psychotic or paranoid, and may even engage in fire setting as a part of a suicide attempt. Pyromania in adults has a high rate of comorbidity with other disorders such as substance abuse disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and mood
Pyromania is one of the DSM-5 disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders. Pyromania is characterized by the inability to resist carrying out fire setting, despite potentially negative or harmful consequences. The presence of several episodes of intentional and purposeful fire setting characterize this disorder. Individuals with this disorder usually experience emotional arousal and tension prior to the act of setting a fire. Individuals with pyromania have a fascination with, interest in, or attraction to fire in several contexts (e.g., paraphernalia and consequences). They may set off fire alarms in stores and schools. Individuals with pyromania often take pleasure in anything associated with fires (e.g., fire departments and fire equipment). Individuals with pyromania repeatedly fail to resist impulses to intentionally start fires. The act of an individual who deliberately starts fires often relieves tension and instant gratification. Another characteristic of this disorder is to induce euphoria. Often, pyromaniacs fixate on institutions of fire control …show more content…
Most children between the age of 5 and 10 years of age do not understand the dangers and consequences of playing with fire. Children who are pathological fire setters exhibit the following features. Some children may set fires as a cry for help. They may be neglected or ignored by their caretakers, suffering from depression, or have been sexually abused. Other children who set fires may be severely disturbed. These individuals are often diagnosed as either psychotic or paranoid, and may even engage in fire setting as a part of a suicide attempt. Pyromania in adults has a high rate of comorbidity with other disorders such as substance abuse disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and mood