pathway compared to the other two pathways, accounting interest-childhood mental health for 31.25% of participants in this pathway (n = 5) and 71.42% of all women in the sample. Due to developing fire related risk factors in childhood and adolescence, fire firesetters are likely to require treatment focussing on managing fire mental health interest and urges to set fires. In addition to this, firesetters characterized by this pathway are likely to have developed specific offence supportive attitudes/thoughts about fire from their early childhood experiences (e.g., beliefs that fire is exciting, beliefs that fire can be used positively as a weapon), reflected in their development of strong affect towards fire (positive or negative). This group are also likely to have developed specific scripts of how and when to use fire (e.g., when bored to elicit excitement or as a coping strategy). Thus, it is likely that these individuals will require specific treatment to recognise and challenge such thoughts/attitudes about fire. Since individuals who follow this pathway are likely to have a pervasive history of firesetting, exploration of any patterns in their firesetting is also likely to be beneficial. More generally, firesetters who follow this pathway may have treatment needs in the areas of communication, problem solving and emotional regulation since the motives for their firesetting appear to be related to problems with communicating and regulating emotions (i.e., expressing anger, cry for help) or an interest/fascination with fire. Case Study Pathway 1. Andrew is a 27 year old male with a diagnosis of paranoid – schizophrenia, his index offence is for Grievous Bodily Harm. Andrew has a reported history of repetitive firesetting although he has not been convicted of any firesetting incidents. Andrew experienced a difficult childhood; his father and step-mother drank heavily, his mother was absent from the age of 7 after splitting with his father and he had a problematic relationship with his step-mother who did not want Andrew or his brother (Caregiver –
interest-childhood mental health pathway compared to the other two pathways, accounting for 31.25% of participants in this pathway (n = 5) and 71.42% of all women in the sample. Due to developing fire related risk factors in childhood and adolescence, fire mental health firesetters are likely to require treatment focussing on managing fire interest and urges to set fires. In addition to this, firesetters characterized by this pathway are likely to have developed specific offence supportive attitudes/thoughts about fire from their early childhood experiences (e.g., beliefs that fire is exciting, beliefs that fire can be used positively as a weapon), reflected in their development of strong affect towards fire (positive or negative). This group are also likely to have developed specific scripts of how and when to use fire (e.g., when bored to elicit excitement or as a coping strategy). Thus, it is likely that these individuals will require specific treatment to recognise and challenge such thoughts/attitudes about fire. Since individuals who follow this pathway are likely to have a pervasive history of firesetting, exploration of any patterns in their firesetting is also likely to be beneficial. More generally, firesetters who follow this pathway may have treatment needs in the areas of communication, problem solving and emotional regulation since the motives for their firesetting appear to be related to problems with communicating and regulating emotions (i.e., expressing anger, cry for help) or an interest/fascination with fire. Case Study – Pathway 1. Andrew is a 27 year old male with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, his index offence is for Grievous Bodily Harm. Andrew has a reported history of repetitive firesetting although he has not been convicted of any firesetting incidents. Andrew experienced a difficult childhood; his father and step-mother drank heavily, his mother was absent from the age of 7 after splitting with his father and he had a problematic relationship with his step-mother – who did not want Andrew or his brother (Caregiver