Abstract
Progress in the understanding of individuals who commit arson has been on a slow but steady course over the past two decades. From our review of court-ordered outpatient forensic psychiatric evaluation of individuals charged with arson over a five-year period, preliminary prototypical profiles of the psychotic, mentally retarded, alcohol abusing, and mood-disordered firesetter are offered. The clinical-legal relevance of our results are explored.
Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
forensic science,
arson,
firesetting,
psychiatry,
psychosis,
alcohol abuse,
pyromania,
mental disorder,
psychiatry,
dangerousness
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