ABSTRACT
The study reported here compares a group of 75 severe firesetters with a group of 105 nonfiresetters and minor firesetters along 32 variables that have been positively correlated with juvenile firesetting behavior. A chisquare analysis of the data revealed that the frequencies observed in the 75 "severe" cases differ significantly from those in the "nonsevere" group. A prediction equation was derived from the 14 most salient variables. This equation can be used to differentiate severe/high-risk from minor/low-risk firesetters 95% of the time.
Subject(s)
Firesetting Behavior/diagnosis , Firesetting Behavior/psychology , Adolescent , Child , Discriminant Analysis , Female , Humans , Male , Prognosis , Severity of Illness IndexSubject(s)
Firesetting Behavior/psychology , Adolescent , Affective Symptoms/complications , Affective Symptoms/psychology , Child , Female , Firesetting Behavior/prevention & control , Foster Home Care/psychology , Humans , Male , Personality Development , Recurrence , Residential Treatment , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Assessment, preventive intervention, and interdisciplinary collaboration between the fire department and mental health services are highlighted as key factors in the identification and treatment of juvenile firesetters and their families. An interagency pilot program in New York City is described and the importance of "aggressive" outreach is emphasized.
Subject(s)
Community Mental Health Services , Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders/prevention & control , Firesetting Behavior/prevention & control , Juvenile Delinquency/prevention & control , Acting Out , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Combined Modality Therapy , Family Therapy , Female , Firesetting Behavior/psychology , Humans , Juvenile Delinquency/psychology , Male , Recurrence , Referral and Consultation , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Results of a replication study of juvenile firesetters confirms, in general, findings of the earlier study: juveniles who feel unwanted or abused or who become aroused by watching or setting fires are most likely to be firesetters. There were, however, significant differences in certain results of the first and second studies, which indicate a need for further research.
Subject(s)
Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders/psychology , Firesetting Behavior/psychology , Residential Treatment , Adaptation, Psychological , Child , Child Abuse , Humans , Parent-Child Relations , Peer Group , Social EnvironmentABSTRACT
Psychological test data of 30 known juvenile and adolescent firesetters were compared with those of a matched control group, within a residential treatment center, to distinguish the identifying characteristics of each group. Hypotheses based on 80 variables found in the literature on firesetting were treated by using a standard test equivalent for each variable. Of the hypotheses, 14 were found to differentiate significantly the two groups, but not all in the predicted direction. Four characteristics were found to be sufficient to discriminate between the groups with greater efficiency than any other combination of variables. A predictor equation is set forth.
