[Firesetting in attempted suicide]

In the course of 25 years we examined 103 arsonists psychiatrically. In 10 of these cases the firesetting was accompanied by a suicidal attempt, or was inspired by a suicidal motive. These arsonists differ from arsonists with other motives: typically suicidal arsonists are older, have a higher share of women, higher values of psychosocial burden, and different psychiatric diagnoses. Moreover, the fire ist set mainly in the own flat, revenge is seen much more frequently as an accompanying motive, and, typically, suicidally motivated arsonists do set only one single fire. Out of our 10 arsonists, 5 originally had intended to die in the flames but then ran away exasperated or were saved; this combination is termed "self-immolation" in older papers. We suggest the term "suicide in combination with firesetting" for cases, where, after having set a fire, the arsonist tries to commit suicide at a different place and with other means than fire. In 7 cases we found the motive of extended suicide, with taking along the own property; in 2 cases, along with the suicide, also intimates were intended to put to dead. One female arsonist was saved out of the fire and then, after being discharged from the hospital, tried to kill her unfaithful friend. About one half of the suicidally motivated firesetters was alcoholized at the time of their firesetting while 70% of the arsonists with other motives were alcoholized, 4 of the suicidal arsonists were alcoholics altogether, similar to the whole group of arsonists, from which, approximately, one half are alcoholics.