TY - JOUR PY - 2010// TI - Prevalence and correlates of fire-setting in the United States: results from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions JO - Comprehensive psychiatry A1 - Vaughn, Michael G. A1 - Fu, Qiang A1 - DeLisi, Matt A1 - Wright, John Paul A1 - Beaver, Kevin M. A1 - Perron, Brian E. A1 - Howard, Matthew O. SP - 217 EP - 223 VL - 51 IS - 3 N2 - Fire-setting is a serious and costly form of antisocial behavior. Our objective in this study was to examine the prevalence and correlates of intentional fire-setting behavior in the United States. Data were derived from a nationally representative sample of US residents 18 years and older. Structured psychiatric interviews (N = 43,093) were completed by trained lay interviewers between 2001 and 2002. Fire-setting as well as mood, anxiety, substance use, and personality disorders of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition were assessed with the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) version. The prevalence of lifetime fire-setting in the US population was 1.0%. Respondents who were men, white, 18 to 35 years old, born in the United States, and living in the western region of the United States had significantly higher rates of fire-setting than their counterparts. Fire-setting was significantly associated with a wide range of antisocial behaviors. Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified strong associations between lifetime alcohol and marijuana use disorders, conduct disorder, antisocial and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders, and family history of antisocial behavior. Intentional illicit fire-setting behavior is associated with a broad array of antisocial behaviors and psychiatric comorbidities. Given the substantial personal and social costs related to arson, prevention and treatment interventions targeting fire-setters potentially could save lives and property.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0010-440X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2009.06.002 ID - ref1 ER -