Citation

Günther MP, Kirchebner J, Lau S. J. Forensic Sci. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.14271

PMID

31905424

Abstract

This study aims to describe the small and distinct subgroup of arsonists diagnosed with schizophrenia, their motives, personal, and crime scene characteristics. While prior research identified significant differences to other criminals, firesetters in general, or mentally disordered offenders, there are no comparisons with other offender patients with schizophrenia so far. In a forensic institution in Switzerland, a group of 30 arsonists with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) was compared to 340 other offender patients with SSD using retrograde file analysis and multiple adapted Fisher´s exact tests. While symptoms of SSD were most defining of both groups, arsonists with SSD were more often single, unemployed, prescribed psychiatric medication at index offense, had a smaller variety of criminal motives, and acted out of anger or revenge in the context of a relationship. In conclusion, symptoms of SSD may be more defining and useful in guiding clinical practice than aspects specific to arsonists.

© 2020 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Language: en

Keywords

arson; firesetting; forensic psychiatry; offending; psychosis; schizophrenia