Arson or fire setting in offenders with intellectual disability: Clinical characteristics, forensic histories, and treatment outcomes

Alexander, Regi T., Chester, Verity, Green, Fatima N., Gunaratna, Ignatius and Hoare, Sudeep (2015) Arson or fire setting in offenders with intellectual disability: Clinical characteristics, forensic histories, and treatment outcomes. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 40 (2). pp. 189-197. ISSN 1366-8250

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Abstract

Background Although many with intellectual disability come to the attention of services for fire setting, research in this area is scarce, which poses challenges for management. Method: In this paper we examined those with a fire-setting history (n = 30), identified from a sample of 138 patients treated in a UK forensic intellectual disability service. Those with a fire-setting history were compared to those without this history on various clinical, forensic, and treatment outcome variables. Results: Fire-setting was associated with significant psychopathology, including psychosis and personality disorders. Only half of the fire setters had a formal arson conviction. Fire setters were more likely to have a violence conviction and criminal sections/restriction orders. Conclusions: Half of those with fire-setting histories did not have formal arson convictions, highlighting the need for thorough history taking. Prevalent comorbidity suggests interventions should focus on treating psychopathology before commencing offence-specific arson therapies.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	learning disability,arson,fire setting,mental health,secure,forensic,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Rehabilitation
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	19 Nov 2015 08:14
Last Modified:	08 May 2023 23:56
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/55407
DOI:	10.3109/13668250.2014.998182

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