Pyromania is an impulse control behavior where the affected person sets fires in

order to relieve tension while simultaneously receiving a sense of pleasure or

satisfaction. I chose to research and write about pyromania because I have always
been fascinated with fire, for example over the summer I make bonfires with friends
very often. I usually feel myself losing sense of time as I stare into it, mesmerized
by the flickering flames.
Rebekah Doley describes several clinical criteria one must satisfy before they are
diagnosed with pyromania. First, they must have deliberately set a fire on more
than one occasion. This makes sure that the fire-setting is purposeful and not an
isolated act, as either condition not being fulfilled would not qualify for pyromania.
Second there must be tension or arousal before the fire is set. These feelings are
responsible for stimulating the behavior. Third a sense of pleasure or relief is felt
when setting the fire, or when participating or witnessing the events following the
setting of the fire. These positive feelings help to reinforce the pyromaniac behavior.
Fourth, the fire must be set for the purpose of the pleasure it and the reactions
bring. Motives including but not limited to such as money, ideology, revenge, or the
results of impaired judgement do not qualify. Lastly the fire setting cannot be better
accounted for by another disorder or symptom. Pyromaniac behavior can be the
product of other disorders so those must be ruled out first.
Antar and Hollander describe various ways in which pyromania is treated. Research
regarding treatment of pyromania is limited, often making it difficult to treat people
with it. For example many drugs have been shown to help with pyromania such as
antipsychotics and anticonvulsants, but no double blind studies have been done.
Pyromania can also be caused by other disorders or situations making the right drug
choice even harder. This results in doctors having to case by case analysis to

determine what the best drug for their respective patients may be. Psychosocial
treatments are also used to treat pyromania. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been
shown to be the most effective form of therapy in reducing fire-setting, interest in
fire, and playing with matches after one year. Fire safety training has also been
shown to be as nearly as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy. Bringing those
suffering from pyromania to one day intensive programs at burn units has also been
shown to be very effective. Pyromania often begins in youth, and the earlier that is
recognized and treated the better. The combined use of drugs and psychosocial
treatments has been shown to be useful. As stated before, there is little evidence
for all forms of treatment and much more research is needed to fully understand
pyromania and the most effective ways to treat it.
Most cases of pyromania occur in children, the exact causes of it are still not known
due to lack of research as was a problem before, and at the very least the cause is
most likely complex. However there are several neurobiological and
neurophysiological bases of pyromania that are associated with other impulse
control disorders that can be a cause. Environment and upbringing has also shown
to have an effect. It has been noted that in many cases the child lacked a strong
father figure.
Rebekah Doley, 2003, Pyromania: Fact or Fiction, British Journal of Criminology,
Volume 43, Pages 797-807
Laura N. Antar, Eric Hollander, Gabbards Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders Fifth
Edition, American Psychiatric Publishing, May 2014
Sadock, B.J.; Sadock, V.A. (2008). Kaplan & Sadock's Concise Textbook of Clinical Psychiatry. Wolters
Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 365