Am J Psychiatry 1975; 132:946-950
Copyright © 1975 by American Psychiatric Association
A fire-setting epidemic in a state mental health center
L Boling and C Brotman
The authors describe a period in which 13 fires were set by 4 patients on
an inpatient service of a state mental health center. Unlike previous
patients reported in the literature, these individuals had no history of
fire setting, although they did display several previously reported
characteristics (e.g., primitive and impulsive personalities and absent
fathers). The influence of institutional changes and conflict upon such
disruptive patient behavior is emphasized; the authors suggest that efforts
to deal with fire setting should recognize the total situation and include
clear limit setting by the hospital administration.
