Citation

Kosky R, Silburn S. Aust. N. Zeal. J. Psychiatry 1984; 18(3): 251-255.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1984, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

6593056

Abstract

This study compares firesetting children with an age- and sex-matched group of non-firesetting children referred to a child psychiatric outpatient service. Firesetting was associated with male sex, separated parents and with previous contact with welfare agencies. It was not associated with socioeconomic status. Firesetters were distinguished from the contrast group by higher levels of conduct disordered behaviour, particularly in children above the age of 11 years. Both groups had similar high levels of emotional disorder at all ages. These clinical features emphasise that firesetters have a mixed clinical picture with widespread psychopathology.

Language: en