Pyromania (compulsive fire-setting)

Pyromania involves more planning than most of the impulse control disorders, so it is more compulsive than impulsive. It requires that the person set more than one deliberate fire (not in a barbecue or fireplace - a destructive fire). The usual impulse disorder sequence of strong arousal before and pleasure or tension reduction after the act must be present. There must not be an external motive that accounts for setting the fire; people who set fires to collect insurance or cover up crimes do not have pyromania, unless they meet the criteria above. The fire setting must not be accounted for by another diagnosis. People with pyromania often have poor learning skills and emotional difficulties. Behavioral interventions may be helpful for pyromania. Most people with pyromania in childhood get better, but untreated adults (the majority of sufferers) don't.