title: Subtypes of firesetters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prior research has classified firesetters by motive. The multi-trajectory theory of adult firesetting (M-TTAF) takes a more aetiological perspective, differentiating between five hypothesised trajectories towards firesetting: antisocial cognition, grievance, fire interest, emotionally expressive/need for recognition and multifaceted trajectories.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to validate the five routes to firesetting as proposed in the M-TTAF.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 389 adult firesetters referred for forensic mental health assessment to one central clinic in the Netherlands between 1950 and 2012 were rated on variables linked to the M-TTAF. Cluster analysis was then applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A reliable cluster solution emerged revealing five subtypes of firesetters - labelled instrumental, reward, multi-problem, disturbed relationship and disordered. Significant differences were observed regarding both offender and offence characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our five-cluster solution with five subtypes of firesetters partially validates the proposed M-TTAF trajectories and suggests that for offenders with and without mental disorder, this classification may be useful. If further validated with larger and more diverse samples, the M-TTAF could provide guidance on staging evidence-based treatment. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Willem Pompe Institute for Criminal Law and Criminology - Department of Law, Economics and Governance, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.|Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, Assen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dalhuisen
authors.affiliation: Willem Pompe Institute for Criminal Law and Criminology - Department of Law, Economics and Governance, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.|Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, Assen, The Netherlands.|Pieter Baan Centre for Forensic Psychiatry, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frans
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Koenraadt
authors.affiliation: Violence Research Initiative - Institute of Security and Global Affairs, Leiden University, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liem
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003415:Crime; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005391:Firesetting Behavior / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009426:Netherlands; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires