TY - JOUR
T1 - Features and motivators of emotionally expressive firesetters
T2 - The assessment of women in secure psychiatric settings
AU - Long, Clive G.
AU - Dickens, Geoffrey
AU - Dolley, Olga
PY - 2014/9/9
Y1 - 2014/9/9
N2 - Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the antecedent behaviours and consequences of firesetting for women in a secure psychiatric setting along with treatment engagement factors. To explore predictions made about emotionally expressive subtype firesetters by the multi-trajectory theory of adult firesetting (M-TTAF). Design/methodology/approach – In total, 75 individual firesetting episodes involving 25 female multiple firesetters were assessed using the St Andrew’s Fire and Arson Risk Instrument. Assessments were made of treatment readiness, firesetting related self-efficacy, insight and barriers to change. Findings – Findings support the relationship between recidivist firesetting and the psychological features of psychosis, personality disorder and substance misuse. The reported association of firesetting with suicidal thoughts, depression, interpersonal problems, anger/revenge motivation and lack of planning supports the view that behaviour is used to manage distressing life experience and as a “cry for help”. However, in a quarter of incidents there was an intention to harm others and evidence of premeditation in twelve percent. A small but significant minority lacked insight into their behaviour, were not ready for treatment and had low firesetting related self-efficacy. Predictions made by the M-TTAF about likely clinical features and motivators of emotionally expressive firesetters were largely supported. Originality/value – The study highlights the importance of a detailed and specific risk assessment of firesetting that leads to identification of individual risk factors and an individualised treatment approach. This is of particular importance given the complex problems presented by women in secure settings and by the diversity of the conditions associated with fires set by each individual.
AB - Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the antecedent behaviours and consequences of firesetting for women in a secure psychiatric setting along with treatment engagement factors. To explore predictions made about emotionally expressive subtype firesetters by the multi-trajectory theory of adult firesetting (M-TTAF). Design/methodology/approach – In total, 75 individual firesetting episodes involving 25 female multiple firesetters were assessed using the St Andrew’s Fire and Arson Risk Instrument. Assessments were made of treatment readiness, firesetting related self-efficacy, insight and barriers to change. Findings – Findings support the relationship between recidivist firesetting and the psychological features of psychosis, personality disorder and substance misuse. The reported association of firesetting with suicidal thoughts, depression, interpersonal problems, anger/revenge motivation and lack of planning supports the view that behaviour is used to manage distressing life experience and as a “cry for help”. However, in a quarter of incidents there was an intention to harm others and evidence of premeditation in twelve percent. A small but significant minority lacked insight into their behaviour, were not ready for treatment and had low firesetting related self-efficacy. Predictions made by the M-TTAF about likely clinical features and motivators of emotionally expressive firesetters were largely supported. Originality/value – The study highlights the importance of a detailed and specific risk assessment of firesetting that leads to identification of individual risk factors and an individualised treatment approach. This is of particular importance given the complex problems presented by women in secure settings and by the diversity of the conditions associated with fires set by each individual.
KW - Arson
KW - Fire setting assessment
KW - Secure psychiatric care
KW - Women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84927509459&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/JCP-08-2013-0022
DO - 10.1108/JCP-08-2013-0022
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84927509459
SN - 2009-3829
VL - 4
SP - 129
EP - 142
JO - Journal of Criminal Psychology
JF - Journal of Criminal Psychology
IS - 2
ER -