@article{ref1,
title="Gender differences amongst adult arsonists at psychiatric assessment",
journal="Medicine, science, and the law",
year="2007",
author="Dickens, Geoff and Sugarman, Philip and Ahmad, Farooq and Edgar, Simon and Hofberg, Kristina and Tewari, Sidharta",
volume="47",
number="3",
pages="233-238",
abstract="Reports of gender differences amongst arsonists at psychiatric assessment are not uncommon, however some are based on relatively small samples. A new retrospective study highlighting gender differences could help to confirm or refute the current state of knowledge. The aim of the current study was to examine gender differences amongst a sample of 167 adult arsonists (129 males and 38 females). Information was collected from clinical records on sociodemographic, family background and childhood factors; adult adjustment; fire setting history; motives; features of pyromania and other offending, from the case notes of a group of arsonists referred to the West Midlands Psychiatry Service over a 24-year period. Female arsonists were older than males and more likely to have a psychiatric diagnosis. Women more frequently had a history of sexual abuse, while men had a more varied criminal background and more substance abuse problems. Our findings largely support previous research, and are discussed in this context, whilst also bringing attention to a more recently developed theory (Action System Model). Significant gender differences amongst arsonists indicates that different emphases in the treatment of male and female arsonists may be advisable, though a reliable evidence base for treatment has yet to be established.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0025-8024",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}