Pyromania: What You Need To Know

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Chapters

0:00 Introduction
0:54 Causes of Pyromania
1:40 Signs and symptoms
2:27 Diagnosis of Pyromania
2:58 Treatment for Pyromania




Pyromania is an impulse control disorder in which individuals repeatedly fail to resist impulses to deliberately start fires,[1] in order to relieve some tension or for instant gratification. The term pyromania comes from the Greek word πῦρ (pyr, 'fire'). Pyromania is distinct from arson, the deliberate setting of fires for personal, monetary or political gain.[2] Pyromaniacs start fires to induce euphoria and often fixate on institutions of fire control like fire houses and firemen.[citation needed][dubious – discuss] Pyromania is a type of impulse control disorder, along with others such as kleptomania or intermittent explosive disorder.

There are specific symptoms that separate pyromaniacs from those who start fires for criminal purposes or due to emotional motivations not specifically related to fire. Someone with this disorder deliberately and purposely sets fires on more than one occasion, and before the act of lighting the fire the person usually experiences tension and an emotional buildup. When around fires, a person with pyromania gains intense interest or fascination and may also experience pleasure, gratification or relief.[3] Another long term contributor often linked with pyromania is the buildup of stress. When studying the lifestyle of someone with pyromania, a buildup of stress and emotion is often evident and this is seen in teens' attitudes towards friends and family.[4] At times it is difficult to distinguish the difference between pyromania and experimentation in childhood because both involve pleasure from the fire.[5] Most studied cases of pyromania occur in children and teenagers.[4] There is a range of causes, but an understanding of the different motives and actions of fire setters can provide a platform for prevention. Common causes of pyromania can be broken down into two main groups: individual and environmental. This includes the complex understanding of factors such as individual temperament, parental psychopathology, and possible neurochemical predispositions.[6] Many studies have shown that patients with pyromania were in households without a father figure present.[7]