Mentally Disordered Firesetters Running Head: MENTALLY DISORDERED FIRESETTERS Explanations of Firesetting in Mentally Disordered Offenders: A Review of the Literature

This paper reviews current explanations of firesetting in adult mentally disordered offenders. In particular attention is given to contemporary research that has examined the developmental and background characteristics, personality and associated traits, motivation for firesetting, neurobiological explanations, psychiatric diagnoses and frequency of self injurious behaviour; including suicide. In addition to this, the likelihood of recidivism and associated risk factors are considered. Evaluation of the existing research has highlighted that even though a significant proportion of the existing research has been conducted with psychiatric populations little is understood about firesetting by mentally disordered offenders. In addition to this, little research has been conducted which compares mentally disordered firesetters to other mentally disordered offenders and non-mentally disordered offenders. Recommendations are made for future research in this area to help develop knowledge of this behaviour further.