What Is Pyromania?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptoms of PyromaniaPyromania vs. ArsonWhat Causes Pyromania?Risk Factors for PyromaniaPyromania in ChildrenTreatment for Pyromania

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms of Pyromania

Pyromania vs. Arson

What Causes Pyromania?

Risk Factors for Pyromania

Pyromania in Children

Treatment for Pyromania

At a GlancePyromania is an impulse control disorder. It isn’t the same as arson, which involves setting fires for personal gain. People with pyromania have an uncontrollable compulsion to set fires to relieve feelings of tension. Having another mental health condition such as gambling disorder, bipolar disorder, or substance use problem can heighten the risk of developing pyromania. Treatments focus on cognitive-behavioral therapy to help people control the thoughts that lead to fire-setting behaviors.

At a Glance

Pyromania is an impulse control disorder. It isn’t the same as arson, which involves setting fires for personal gain. People with pyromania have an uncontrollable compulsion to set fires to relieve feelings of tension. Having another mental health condition such as gambling disorder, bipolar disorder, or substance use problem can heighten the risk of developing pyromania. Treatments focus on cognitive-behavioral therapy to help people control the thoughts that lead to fire-setting behaviors.

The latest edition of theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-5-TR) classifies pyromania in the disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders section. The essential feature of pyromania is the presence of multiple episodes of deliberate and purposeful fire setting.

In addition, individuals with pyromania experience tension and affect arousal before setting a fire. Affect arousal involves feeling alert and highly reactive to stimuli; it can leave people feeling tense and highly energized.

Other symptoms may include:A fascination with fire, which may include interest, curiosity, and attraction to fire and fire-setting paraphernaliaWatching fires in the neighborhood, setting off false alarms, or gaining pleasure from institutions, equipment, and personnel with fireSpending time at a local fire department, setting fires to be affiliated with the fire department, or becoming a firefighterExperiencing pleasure, gratification, or relief when starting a fire, witnessing the effects, and participating in the aftermath

Other symptoms may include:

People with pyromania do not set fires for monetary gain. They also aren’t trying to conceal criminal activity, gain vengeance, or improve their living situation. The symptoms also cannot be in response to delusions or hallucinations.

People with pyromania may make considerable advance preparation for setting fires. They may be indifferent to whether anyone is physically or financially harmed or they may gain pleasure from the destruction they cause.

A person with pyromania might hoard matches and lighters, burn holes in fabric, rugs, or furniture and set fire to pieces of paper or other flammable materials. They are motivated because of the emotions they experience when they set fires.

But, they don’t have a desire to harm anyone, and they aren’t looking for monetary gains from the fires they set. Someone committing arson, on the other hand, may burn down someone’s house to get revenge or to try to collect insurance money.

Arson is a crime, whereas pyromania is a psychiatric diagnosis.Someone who commits arson does not necessarily have an underlying psychiatric condition; plus, setting fires is only one aspect of the diagnosis for pyromania.

There isn’t a single known cause of pyromania. Research suggests there might be a genetic link, and it may be similar to a behavioral addiction.Other factors such as brain chemistry, stress, upbringing, and environmental variables may also play a role.

People who have certain other mental illnesses may be at a higher risk than the general population. People with agambling disorder,bipolar disorder,substance use disorder, andantisocial personality disordermay be more likely to have pyromania.

How Prevalent Is Pyromania?It’s not known exactly how many people have pyromania. Researchers estimate it only affects a very small portion of the population, however.The prevalence of pyromania is unknown. However, reports show that between 3% and 6% of psychiatric inpatients have met the full criteria for pyromania.When researchers examined individuals in the criminal system who had exhibited repeat fire-setting behaviors, they found only 3.3% of that population met the full criteria for pyromania.

How Prevalent Is Pyromania?

It’s not known exactly how many people have pyromania. Researchers estimate it only affects a very small portion of the population, however.The prevalence of pyromania is unknown. However, reports show that between 3% and 6% of psychiatric inpatients have met the full criteria for pyromania.When researchers examined individuals in the criminal system who had exhibited repeat fire-setting behaviors, they found only 3.3% of that population met the full criteria for pyromania.

It’s not known exactly how many people have pyromania. Researchers estimate it only affects a very small portion of the population, however.

The prevalence of pyromania is unknown. However, reports show that between 3% and 6% of psychiatric inpatients have met the full criteria for pyromania.When researchers examined individuals in the criminal system who had exhibited repeat fire-setting behaviors, they found only 3.3% of that population met the full criteria for pyromania.

Risk factors that may be associated with an elevated likelihood of developing pyromania include:

The condition appears in males and females—though it’s significantly more common in males. It’s more common in people who have learning disabilities or lack social skills. Most people with pyromania started setting fires during adolescence or early adulthood.

Pyromania has been associated with people who have been sexually or physically abused, or suffer parental neglect or abandonment. People who have a history of crime also tend to display more fire-setting tendencies.

For example, more than 19% of those diagnosed with pyromania has been charged with vandalism at least once, and around 18% have been found guilty of non-violent sexual offenses.

Fire setting is a major problem in young people.But, few of those young people meet the criteria for pyromania. There isn’t a typical age of onset for pyromania. It may be identified during childhood, but it’s unclear if pyromania lasts into adulthood.

Fire-setting behaviors often come and go in people with pyromania. So a child who exhibits symptoms of pyromania may seem to get better over time before engaging in fire setting again.

Pyromania may be identified during childhood. Family, friends, or teachers may be among the first people to recognize a child seems obsessed with fire.

Fire setting in adolescents is often associated withconduct disorder,ADHD, or anadjustment disorder.

Immediate treatment of suspected pyromania is key to avoid the risk of injury, property damage, jail time, or even death. The standard method of treatment for pyromania iscognitive behavioral therapy, which teaches a person to acknowledge the feelings of tension that can lead to setting fires and finding a safer way to release that tension.

Family members who are concerned about an individual who seems obsessed with fire might benefit from family counseling.Family therapycan help loved ones understand the disorder while teaching them how to keep the family safe.

At this point, there haven’t been any controlled trials of medication for pyromania, though proposed medical treatments include the use of SSRIs, antiepileptic medications, atypical antipsychotics, lithium, and anti-androgens.

While there are currently no medications approved to treat pyromania and other impulse control disorders, a doctor may prescribe medications to treat related conditions or symptoms of anxiety and depression. For some people, treating those symptoms may help improve impulse control and reduce the urge to start fires.

RecapCognitive behavioral therapy is considered the first-line treatment option at this time. Medications may help treat co-occurring conditions and other forms of therapy can help family members understand and manage their loved one’s condition.

Recap

Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered the first-line treatment option at this time. Medications may help treat co-occurring conditions and other forms of therapy can help family members understand and manage their loved one’s condition.

Takeaway

Pyromania isn’t a joking matter, nor is it something to treat lightly. People who potentially have pyromania should seek help immediately to keep themselves, as well everyone in their lives and in their community, safe from harm or damage.

14 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Schreiber L, Odlaug BL, Grant JE.Impulse control disorders: updated review of clinical characteristics and pharmacological management.Front Psychiatry. 2011;2:1. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00001Johnson RS, Netherton E.Fire setting and the impulse-control disorder of pyromania.American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal. 2016;11(7):14-16. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2016.110707American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Ellithy A, Hawke LD, Ward A, Henderson J.The study of developmental risk factors for early fire involvement.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2022;53(2):307-316. doi:10.1007/s10578-021-01122-9Palermo GB.A look at firesetting, arson, and pyromania.Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2015;59(7):683-684. doi:10.1177/0306624X15586217Potenza MN.Clinical neuropsychiatric considerations regarding nonsubstance or behavioral addictions.Dialogues Clin Neurosci.2017;19(3):281-291.Black DW, Coryell W, Crowe R, Shaw M, Mccormick B, Allen J.The relationship of DSM-IV pathological gambling to compulsive buying and other possible spectrum disorders: Results from the Iowa PG family study.Psychiatry Research. 2015;226(1):273-276.Blanco C, Alegría AA, Petry NM, et al.Prevalence and correlates of fire-setting in the United States: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC).J Clin Psychiatry.2010;71(9):1218-1225. doi:10.4088/JCP.08m04812gryBurton P, McNiel D, Binder R.Firesetting, arson, pyromania, and the forensic mental health expert.J Am Acad Psychiatry Law.2012;40:355– 65.Howell Bowling C, Merrick J, Omar HA.Self-reported juvenile firesetting: results from two national survey datasets.Front Public Health. 2013;1:60. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2013.00060Disorders.org.Pyromania.Ogundele MO.Behavioural and emotional disorders in childhood: A brief overview for paediatricians.World J Clin Pediatr.2018;7(1):9-26. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v7.i1.9Howell bowling C, Merrick J, Omar HA.Self-reported juvenile firesetting: results from two national survey datasets.Front Public Health.2013;1:60. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2013.00060Dell’osso B, Altamura AC, Allen A, Marazziti D, Hollander E.Epidemiologic and clinical updates on impulse control disorders: a critical review.Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.2006;256(8):464-475. doi:10.1007/s00406-006-0668-0

14 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Schreiber L, Odlaug BL, Grant JE.Impulse control disorders: updated review of clinical characteristics and pharmacological management.Front Psychiatry. 2011;2:1. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00001Johnson RS, Netherton E.Fire setting and the impulse-control disorder of pyromania.American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal. 2016;11(7):14-16. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2016.110707American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Ellithy A, Hawke LD, Ward A, Henderson J.The study of developmental risk factors for early fire involvement.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2022;53(2):307-316. doi:10.1007/s10578-021-01122-9Palermo GB.A look at firesetting, arson, and pyromania.Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2015;59(7):683-684. doi:10.1177/0306624X15586217Potenza MN.Clinical neuropsychiatric considerations regarding nonsubstance or behavioral addictions.Dialogues Clin Neurosci.2017;19(3):281-291.Black DW, Coryell W, Crowe R, Shaw M, Mccormick B, Allen J.The relationship of DSM-IV pathological gambling to compulsive buying and other possible spectrum disorders: Results from the Iowa PG family study.Psychiatry Research. 2015;226(1):273-276.Blanco C, Alegría AA, Petry NM, et al.Prevalence and correlates of fire-setting in the United States: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC).J Clin Psychiatry.2010;71(9):1218-1225. doi:10.4088/JCP.08m04812gryBurton P, McNiel D, Binder R.Firesetting, arson, pyromania, and the forensic mental health expert.J Am Acad Psychiatry Law.2012;40:355– 65.Howell Bowling C, Merrick J, Omar HA.Self-reported juvenile firesetting: results from two national survey datasets.Front Public Health. 2013;1:60. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2013.00060Disorders.org.Pyromania.Ogundele MO.Behavioural and emotional disorders in childhood: A brief overview for paediatricians.World J Clin Pediatr.2018;7(1):9-26. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v7.i1.9Howell bowling C, Merrick J, Omar HA.Self-reported juvenile firesetting: results from two national survey datasets.Front Public Health.2013;1:60. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2013.00060Dell’osso B, Altamura AC, Allen A, Marazziti D, Hollander E.Epidemiologic and clinical updates on impulse control disorders: a critical review.Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.2006;256(8):464-475. doi:10.1007/s00406-006-0668-0

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Schreiber L, Odlaug BL, Grant JE.Impulse control disorders: updated review of clinical characteristics and pharmacological management.Front Psychiatry. 2011;2:1. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00001Johnson RS, Netherton E.Fire setting and the impulse-control disorder of pyromania.American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal. 2016;11(7):14-16. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2016.110707American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Ellithy A, Hawke LD, Ward A, Henderson J.The study of developmental risk factors for early fire involvement.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2022;53(2):307-316. doi:10.1007/s10578-021-01122-9Palermo GB.A look at firesetting, arson, and pyromania.Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2015;59(7):683-684. doi:10.1177/0306624X15586217Potenza MN.Clinical neuropsychiatric considerations regarding nonsubstance or behavioral addictions.Dialogues Clin Neurosci.2017;19(3):281-291.Black DW, Coryell W, Crowe R, Shaw M, Mccormick B, Allen J.The relationship of DSM-IV pathological gambling to compulsive buying and other possible spectrum disorders: Results from the Iowa PG family study.Psychiatry Research. 2015;226(1):273-276.Blanco C, Alegría AA, Petry NM, et al.Prevalence and correlates of fire-setting in the United States: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC).J Clin Psychiatry.2010;71(9):1218-1225. doi:10.4088/JCP.08m04812gryBurton P, McNiel D, Binder R.Firesetting, arson, pyromania, and the forensic mental health expert.J Am Acad Psychiatry Law.2012;40:355– 65.Howell Bowling C, Merrick J, Omar HA.Self-reported juvenile firesetting: results from two national survey datasets.Front Public Health. 2013;1:60. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2013.00060Disorders.org.Pyromania.Ogundele MO.Behavioural and emotional disorders in childhood: A brief overview for paediatricians.World J Clin Pediatr.2018;7(1):9-26. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v7.i1.9Howell bowling C, Merrick J, Omar HA.Self-reported juvenile firesetting: results from two national survey datasets.Front Public Health.2013;1:60. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2013.00060Dell’osso B, Altamura AC, Allen A, Marazziti D, Hollander E.Epidemiologic and clinical updates on impulse control disorders: a critical review.Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.2006;256(8):464-475. doi:10.1007/s00406-006-0668-0

Schreiber L, Odlaug BL, Grant JE.Impulse control disorders: updated review of clinical characteristics and pharmacological management.Front Psychiatry. 2011;2:1. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00001

Johnson RS, Netherton E.Fire setting and the impulse-control disorder of pyromania.American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal. 2016;11(7):14-16. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2016.110707

American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.

Ellithy A, Hawke LD, Ward A, Henderson J.The study of developmental risk factors for early fire involvement.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2022;53(2):307-316. doi:10.1007/s10578-021-01122-9

Palermo GB.A look at firesetting, arson, and pyromania.Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2015;59(7):683-684. doi:10.1177/0306624X15586217

Potenza MN.Clinical neuropsychiatric considerations regarding nonsubstance or behavioral addictions.Dialogues Clin Neurosci.2017;19(3):281-291.

Black DW, Coryell W, Crowe R, Shaw M, Mccormick B, Allen J.The relationship of DSM-IV pathological gambling to compulsive buying and other possible spectrum disorders: Results from the Iowa PG family study.Psychiatry Research. 2015;226(1):273-276.

Blanco C, Alegría AA, Petry NM, et al.Prevalence and correlates of fire-setting in the United States: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC).J Clin Psychiatry.2010;71(9):1218-1225. doi:10.4088/JCP.08m04812gry

Burton P, McNiel D, Binder R.Firesetting, arson, pyromania, and the forensic mental health expert.J Am Acad Psychiatry Law.2012;40:355– 65.

Howell Bowling C, Merrick J, Omar HA.Self-reported juvenile firesetting: results from two national survey datasets.Front Public Health. 2013;1:60. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2013.00060

Disorders.org.Pyromania.

Ogundele MO.Behavioural and emotional disorders in childhood: A brief overview for paediatricians.World J Clin Pediatr.2018;7(1):9-26. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v7.i1.9

Howell bowling C, Merrick J, Omar HA.Self-reported juvenile firesetting: results from two national survey datasets.Front Public Health.2013;1:60. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2013.00060

Dell’osso B, Altamura AC, Allen A, Marazziti D, Hollander E.Epidemiologic and clinical updates on impulse control disorders: a critical review.Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.2006;256(8):464-475. doi:10.1007/s00406-006-0668-0

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