Prevalence and correlates of fire-setting in the United States: results from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.
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.
Vaughn
Michael G
MG
School of Social Work and Department of Community Health, Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA. mvaughn9@slu.edu
Fu
Qiang
Q
Delisi
Matt
M
Wright
John Paul
JP
Beaver
Kevin M
KM
Perron
Brian E
BE
Howard
Matthew O
MO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005391:Firesetting Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
D013287:Illicit Drugs
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1990 Nov;29(6):936-41
2273024
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2003 Jul 20;71(1):7-16
12821201
Drug Alcohol Depend. 1995 Jul;39(1):37-44
7587973
Med Sci Law. 2004 Jan;44(1):27-40
14984212
J Abnorm Child Psychol. 1986 Jun;14(2):315-29
3722626
J Consult Clin Psychol. 1988 Aug;56(4):628-30
3198825
Am J Psychiatry. 1966 Jun;122(12):1431-5
5929498
Am J Psychiatry. 2008 Jul;165(7):905-13
18381900
Med Sci Law. 1973 Apr;13(2):127-38
4805372
Child Abuse Negl. 2008 Feb;32(2):161-76
18308389
Drug Alcohol Depend. 1997 Mar 14;44(2-3):133-41
9088785
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1996 Jun;53(6):523-9
8639035
J Nerv Ment Dis. 2006 Sep;194(9):667-75
16971818
J Clin Psychiatry. 2004 Jul;65(7):948-58
15291684
BMC Psychiatry. 2005 Dec 14;5:47
16351734
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004 Apr;61(4):361-8
15066894
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2004 Jul;43(7):905-12
15213592