A fire-setting epidemic in a state mental health center

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.