NCJ Number
57332
Journal
American Journal of Psychiatry Volume: 136 Issue: 4A Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 433-435
Date Published
1979
Length
3 pages
Annotation
DATA INDICATE THAT CHILDREN WHO SET FIRES SHOW A LONG HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS, THAT OTHER MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES ARE OFTEN DISTURBED, AND THAT FIRESETTING IS SELDOM THE ONLY COMPLAINT FROM WHICH THEY SUFFER.
Abstract
THE STUDY ATTEMPTED TO FIND WHAT WAS BEING DONE FOR JUVENILE FIRESETTERS IN THE METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY OF VANCOUVER, CANADA. THE STUDY TOOK PLACE OVER A 3-YEAR PERIOD AND COVERED CASE HISTORIES OF 69 JUVENILE FIRESETTERS. OF THE 69 STUDIED 4 WERE GIRLS, 27 SET FIRES ALONE AND 44 OPERATED IN GROUPS; 15 WERE OVER 12 YEARS OF AGE. A TOTAL OF 37.7 PERCENT WERE REFERRED TO THE JUVENILE COURT AND 15.9 PERCENT HAD PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENTS. PSYCHIATRIC HISTORIES OF 11 OF THE JUVENILES SHOWED THAT 7 WERE FROM BROKEN HOMES AND 6 HAD PARENTS WITH SEVERE PSYCHOPATHOLOGY INCLUDING SUICIDE, HOMICIDE, PSYCHOSES AND ALCOHOLISM. THE CHILDREN SUFFERED FROM LEARNING DISABILITIES, SCHOOL FAILURE, DEPRESSIVE REACTIONS AND FAMILY ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS. THREE WERE MENTALLY RETARDED. TWO CASE HISTORIES WERE PRESENTED TO EMPHASIZE THE DIVERSITY OF SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH FIRESETTING AND THE DIFFICULTIES PSYCHIATRISTS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS MAY ENCOUNTER IN HELPING THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE TWO CASE HISTORIES ILLUSTRATE THE LONG HISTORY OF DIFFICULTIES THAT SEEM TO BE TYPICAL OF JUVENILES WHO REPEATEDLY SET FIRES. BECAUSE THE FAMILIES OF FIRESETTERS SEEM TO HAVE MANY OTHER SOCIAL PROBLEMS, EARLY INPATIENT ASSESSMENT AND REFERRAL TO FOSTER HOMES OR RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTERS IS RECOMMENDED FOR JUVENILE FIRESETTERS BY THE STUDY. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (STB)