[Psychology and psychopathology of firesetting behavior 1955 to 1991--a review]

After a historical introduction and some short remarks on criminal arson, this review of the literature since 1955 mainly focuses on pathological firesetting. It deals with all important aspects of the psychiatry of firesetting: arson by persons referred to psychiatric examination, by the mentally ill, and by psychiatric inpatients, the relationship between arson and sexuality, psychoanalytical contributions, arson by children and juveniles, therapy and prevention of firesetting behaviour. Female arsonists, recidivism, and suicide by burning are considered separately.