Pyromania

About Pyromania

Pyromania is characterized by deliberate and purposeful fire setting on more than one occasion, accompanied by tension or emotional arousal before the act, fascination with or attraction to fire and its contexts, and pleasure, gratification or relief when setting fires or witnessing or participating in their aftermath. The fire setting is not done for monetary gain, as an expression of political ideology, to conceal criminal activity, to express anger or revenge, or to improve living circumstances, is not a response to a delusion, hallucination or impaired judgment, and is not better explained by conduct disorder, a manic episode or antisocial personality disorder. These exclusions mean that pyromania accounts for only a small fraction of fire setting, and it is considered rare. People with pyromania may be regular watchers of fires, set off false alarms or take an unusual interest in firefighting equipment and services. DSM-5 classifies it among the disruptive, impulse control and conduct disorders, and it is diagnosed more often in males. It may co occur with substance use, mood disorders and other impulse control problems. Research on treatment is limited. Approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy that addresses triggers, urges and alternative coping, and fire safety education, particularly for young people involved in fire setting, with medication sometimes used for co occurring conditions.