An impulsive behavioral disorder in which an individual affected with this disorder has the urge to set fire deliberately on almost anything without reasons is called pyromania. If uncontrolled the interest in fire, which starts during childhood, will eventually lead to pyromania. This tragic disorder ballooned from childhood fun in setting fires not controlled by adults around the child.
For an individual to be considered a pyromaniac, the patient must meet the following criteria: 1. He sets the fire deliberately more than once and with no apparent reasons except to enjoy seeing the fire. 2. The patient shows some outward emotional behavior, such as stressful anticipation, before setting the fire. 3. His intense interest is in setting or watching a fire. 4. At post fire setting or fire watching, he displays pleasure, satisfaction, or gratification at what he has done. 5. The only motivation of the patient is his strong urge to just set fire and see the fire. As for causes, pyromania is a psychiatric disorder with underlying emotional trauma or social problems that push a desire in the patient to see fire burning things. Pyromania is a strong fascination for fire; and fire-setting gives a euphoria to the individual after he has done his act. Additional causes also include sensation seeking and antisocial behaviors or attitudes. Majority or 90% of those diagnosed with pyromania are generally male. At one time, psychiatrist Jon Grant examined by SPECT the brain of a pyromania patient and found a low blood flow within the left inferior frontal portion of the brain. This study is the first evidence of a biological cause for pyromania.
A pyromaniac can still be treated with both psychiatric and medical therapy. It is best done with behavioral therapy. Psychotherapy treatment alongside behavior modification is the most frequently used treatment. Based on the study of Jon Grant, a combination treatment of drugs and behavioral therapy was found to be successful in treating pyromania. The use of serotonin reuptake inhibitors is also beneficial in controlling the impulsive behavior of the patient as in other impulse control disorder. Medications such as Lithium, naltrexone (ReVia), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetene(Paxil), citalopram (Celexa), and other antidepressants are also helpful.
Hope is still there for a pyromaniac. The patient has to face and admit he has this disorder that needs special psychiatric and medical treatment. However, if the condition of the patient is grave to the extent he cannot admit his problem, then it is up to his family or the authorities to rehabilitate him.
For an individual to be considered a pyromaniac, the patient must meet the following criteria: 1. He sets the fire deliberately more than once and with no apparent reasons except to enjoy seeing the fire. 2. The patient shows some outward emotional behavior, such as stressful anticipation, before setting the fire. 3. His intense interest is in setting or watching a fire. 4. At post fire setting or fire watching, he displays pleasure, satisfaction, or gratification at what he has done. 5. The only motivation of the patient is his strong urge to just set fire and see the fire. As for causes, pyromania is a psychiatric disorder with underlying emotional trauma or social problems that push a desire in the patient to see fire burning things. Pyromania is a strong fascination for fire; and fire-setting gives a euphoria to the individual after he has done his act. Additional causes also include sensation seeking and antisocial behaviors or attitudes. Majority or 90% of those diagnosed with pyromania are generally male. At one time, psychiatrist Jon Grant examined by SPECT the brain of a pyromania patient and found a low blood flow within the left inferior frontal portion of the brain. This study is the first evidence of a biological cause for pyromania.
A pyromaniac can still be treated with both psychiatric and medical therapy. It is best done with behavioral therapy. Psychotherapy treatment alongside behavior modification is the most frequently used treatment. Based on the study of Jon Grant, a combination treatment of drugs and behavioral therapy was found to be successful in treating pyromania. The use of serotonin reuptake inhibitors is also beneficial in controlling the impulsive behavior of the patient as in other impulse control disorder. Medications such as Lithium, naltrexone (ReVia), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetene(Paxil), citalopram (Celexa), and other antidepressants are also helpful.
Hope is still there for a pyromaniac. The patient has to face and admit he has this disorder that needs special psychiatric and medical treatment. However, if the condition of the patient is grave to the extent he cannot admit his problem, then it is up to his family or the authorities to rehabilitate him.
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