Editor:
We would like to thank Dr. Pontius for her response and contributions to the firesetting literature. Indeed, a comprehensive differential diagnosis for the behavior of firesetting would include partial seizures and epilepsy. Further, there are cases in which arson defendants have been found not guilty by reason of insanity related to epileptic seizures.1
Additional Axis III conditions have been associated with firesetting (e.g., stroke, intracranial space-occupying lesions, head trauma, delirium, chromosomal disorders, and metabolic and endocrine disturbances).2,–,13 We encourage the consideration of medical and neurologic conditions during firesetting assessments in both forensic and clinical settings.
Footnotes
Disclosures of financial or other potential conflicts of interest: None.
- © 2013 American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
References
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- 10.↵DeJongJ VirkkunenM LinnoilaM: Factors associated with recidivism in a criminal population. J Nerv Ment Dis 180:543–50, 1992
- 11.↵VirkkunenM: Reactive hypoglycemic tendency among arsonists. Acta Psychiatr Scand 69:445–52, 1984
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