What Is Pyromania? Symptoms And Mental Health Treatment Options

Pyromania is often considered a rare mental health disorder characterized by a fascination with fire and lighting fires. The control disorder of pyromania is one among several impulse control disorders. Those who experience this type of impulse control disorder tend to compulsively set fires, usually in an attempt to relieve anxiety or other kinds of tension. 

While the majority of people who meet the criteria for a pyromania diagnosis do not want to hurt anyone or damage property, this risk is inherent in the way this impulse control disorder manifests via fire-setting behaviors. That’s why getting treatment for pyromania is vital for keeping the individual and the people and property they come in contact with safe from the negative consequences of purposeful fire-setting. Read on to learn more about this rare disorder, including its causes, symptoms, pyromania risk factors, and how it is treated.

What is the difference between pyromania and arson?

Because there are many common misconceptions about pyromania, it’s useful to begin with an explanation of what it is and is not. At its core, it’s an impulse disorder marked by a compulsive need to set fires in order to stave off or release some kind of tension.

Someone who commits arson and someone with pyromania are not inherently the same. An arsonist is someone who deliberately sets fire to buildings, forests, or other places or property, and actively seeks out opportunities to do so. Someone with pyromania, in contrast, typically does not want to damage property but feels a compulsive need to set fires nevertheless. The key difference between the two is the intent behind setting fire to something rather than the action. 

When fire setting is not pyromania

While pyromania is considered a pathological fire-setting behavior, there are other types of deliberate and purposeful fire-setting behaviors. Arsonists may set fires for a number of different reasons, such as revenge, financial gain, or political purposes, and can be charged with a felony as a consequence of their actions. A person with pyromania could also have to face consequences for their actions if they legally qualify as arson, but their clinical diagnosis could make a difference in sentencing. Moreover, fire setting can be a broad and inclusive term that does not necessarily imply pyromania or a specific intent. 

It’s also worth noting that in separate studies of 113 arsonists, 191 state hospital patients with a history of fire setting, and 27 female fire-setters—331 individuals with a history of fire setting in total—none were diagnosed with pyromania by forensic mental health experts. These findings were published in the American Journal of Psychiatry and relied on information from the American Psychiatric Association Publishing Association. They support just how rare the disorder is and could also suggest that those with this mental illness don’t commonly end up engaging in criminal acts as a result, though more research would be needed to accurately draw such conclusions. (Mental health research is constantly evolving, so older sources may contain information or theories that have been reevaluated since their original publication date.)

Prevalence of pyromania and who may be affected

There is limited data on the prevalence of pyromania. The American Psychiatric Association estimates that it may affect around 1% of the population in the United States. Other findings indicate that between 3 % to 6% of psychiatric patients may have pyromania. 

Pyromania symptoms and diagnostic criteria

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5-TR) characterizes pyromania by “repeated, deliberate fire-setting accompanied by increasing tension and followed by a sense of immediate gratification afterwards.” Additionally, this behavior must not be driven by external motives, such as financial gain or revenge; instead, it is primarily motivated by one’s fascination with fire and by the tension and relief experienced before and after setting the fire. As a rare impulse control disorder, to be diagnosed with pyromania, a person must exhibit a pattern of pyromania symptoms. These symptoms may include:

• Deliberate and purposeful fire-setting on multiple occasions
• Experiencing tension or arousal before the act
• A fascination with or a strong interest in fires and their situational contexts
• Experience pleasure, gratification, or relief after setting fires 
• Not engaging in fire-setting for external motives, such as revenge, financial gain, substance use, or impaired judgment, or as a result of intellectual disability
• Fire-setting behavior that is not better explained by another mental health condition, such as conduct disorder, a manic episode, or antisocial personality disorder  

Prior to a pyromania diagnosis, a person will usually be screened for other mental health conditions. While many people with pyromania may also experience other co-occurring conditions, a diagnosis is only made when the fire-setting behavior cannot be better explained by another condition. 

Comorbidities and related diagnoses

While distinct from conduct disorder, a person with pyromania may also have conduct problems, especially during childhood and adolescence. Substance use may also be a factor, but for a diagnosis to be made, fire setting should stem from a strong and personal impulse rather than be better explained by another mental health condition. Other conditions that may be comorbid with pyromania include bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression, substance use disorder, and neurodevelopmental disorder. 

Risk factors for developing pyromania

Pyromania is associated with some risk factors that may contribute to its development. 

Pyromania is often associated with conduct disorder, particularly in younger individuals, but exactly what causes pyromania is not yet fully understood. However, research has uncovered a set of risk factors that may predispose an individual to develop this disorder. These include:

• Environmental factors, such as poverty, or growing up in harsh or frustrating circumstances
• A genetic component, such as a family history of pyromania or other mental health disorders and mood disorders
• Childhood trauma, such as neglect, maltreatment, and sexual abuse
• Comorbities, such as anxiety, depression, a learning disorder, a substance use disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, other disruptive impulse control, and conduct disorders
• Being male
• An imbalance of certain brain chemicals*

Some researchers also suggest there may be imbalances in brain chemistry related to impulse control and other neurodevelopmental factors that are still being studied.

Ultimately, the reason an individual might develop pyromania depends on several factors that are not fully understood by modern research.

Signs and symptoms of pyromania

There is a fairly clear set of signs and symptoms that can indicate pyromania. Pyromania may only apply if the individual’s behaviors can’t be explained by another psychiatric disorder or other motivations (political beliefs, monetary gain, to cover up a crime, impaired judgment due to substance use).

Regularly burning things

The first symptom is deliberately setting fires on more than one occasion. These multiple episodes in which the individual deliberately starts fires can take various forms. Someone with pyromania may often:

• Burn holes in clothing or rugs, or may burn paper or other materials in trash cans or over the stove, for example, especially at first. 
• Have burn marks and scars on their bodies as a result of their behaviors. 
• Hoard matches and lighters, possibly playing with them regularly or lighting them just to watch the flames. 

It’s worth noting that pyromania can escalate over time, so a person with this disorder may start by lighting matches but not setting anything on fire at first. Over time, they may be drawn to setting small objects on fire, then larger ones, and so on. 

Specific feelings related to fire-setting

Again, intention is what often separates pyromania from pure arson or other behaviors that do not qualify as mental health disorders. Someone with this condition will typically be tense and/or excitable before setting a fire and will usually experience pleasure or relief afterward. This could range from relief to sexual gratification, depending on the individual. This release typically constitutes their main motivation for burning things in any capacity, rather than the clear desire to harm others or damage property.

An attraction to all things fire-related 

An individual with pyromania may also be fascinated with other fires—even those that they don’t set themselves. They may be drawn to watching them either in person or on TV and hearing about fires that happen in other places. They might enjoy talking about fires and may seek out people who are like-minded or who work in fire-related jobs. They may be attracted to the firefighting industry in particular, and it’s not uncommon for them to spend time at fire departments.

Treatment for impulse control disorders like pyromania

Treatment may involve cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps patients understand and manage their urges while addressing underlying issues contributing to their behavior. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)  can also help a person develop coping skills to control impulses. Additionally, family therapy and multisystem approaches may also be recommended. In the case of co-occurring conditions, some people may also benefit from medication. 

Seeking treatment for this disorder is typically important because of the way an individual’s symptoms have the potential to harm others. The symptoms of impulse disorders like pyromania can be difficult to manage without professional help, which is why some form of psychotherapy is typically recommended treatment for individuals with this condition. A focus of therapy will often involve:

• Learning to identify and redirect the urge to start a fire into something safe and productive. More specialized methods, such as covert sensitization. 
• Learning about the stressors that may trigger this impulse and how to manage them. 
• Adopting problem-solving skills to help an individual manage their impulses and effectively redirect them when they do occur.

Safety planning and immediate harm reduction

If you know someone grappling with pyromania, especially a young person, you may want to consider ways to reduce access to lighters, matches, and other tools that can spark fires. It may also be beneficial to contact local support systems, such as the local fire department, for guidance and safety education. They may provide guidance on installing and using fire extinguishers, help you create and practice escape routes, and possibly make home visits to address specific safety concerns.

Connecting with a therapist

Confiding in someone about impulses you feel you have no control over can seem intimidating. However, it’s the job of a trained therapist to provide clients with a safe, nonjudgmental space where they can be honest about their feelings and get unbiased, caring support and guidance. A therapist using an evidence-based approach like CBT can help you control impulses and address other mental health conditions. 

Research suggests that online therapy can constitute an effective treatment delivery modality, which means that you can typically choose between that option and in-person sessions based on what feels right for you. If you’re interested in connecting with a provider virtually, you might consider an online therapy platform like BetterHelp. After the sign-up process, you can get matched with a licensed therapist whom you can meet with via phone, video call, and/or in-app messaging to address the challenges you may be facing. 

Research notes and terms you may see in this article

Here, we reference, among many findings, an article in The American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal titled “Fire Setting and the Impulse Control Disorder of Pyromania.” The article lists findings from other studies, including “Firesetting, arson, pyromania, and the forensic mental health expert,” published by J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. The article in the Journal of Psychiatric Residents also references the criteria for pyromania listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, published by the American Psychiatric Publishing.