title: The children's firesetting interview with psychiatrically referred and nonreferred children.
abstract: This study evaluated the Children's Firesetting Interview (CFI). The measure was developed to operationalize multiple domains of functioning derived from a risk-factor model of firesetting. The model poses that child, parent, and family characteristics promote firesetting and continuation of a pattern of firesetting. Major factors include curiosity about fire, involvement in and exposure to fire-related activities, and knowledge about first safety The CFI, consisting of 46 questions reflecting six a priori dimensions, was administered to 519 children (ages 6-13) recruited from nonpatient, outpatient, and inpatient samples. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the measure were satisfactory. Criterion validity was supported by the findings that firesetters showed greater curiosity about fire, involvement in fire-related activities, exposure to models/materials, and knowledge about things that burn than did nonfiresetters. These findings did not vary as a function of the child's patient status or level of antisocial behavior. Implications for the evaluation of firesetting risk are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pennsylvania 15213.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kolko
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Kazdin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005391:Firesetting Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors