Pyromania and executive/frontal dysfunction

Although pyromania is viewed as an impulse control disorder resulting from poor response inhibition, no studies document an executive/frontal brain dysfunction in pyromania. Similarly, no studies document a familial pattern in this disorder or in fire setting in general. This paper addresses these issues. A patient with pyromania, showing a familial pattern, and an executive function/frontal deficit observed on neuropsychological tests, is presented. His deficit seems progressive, as is the fire setting behavior, which may suggest a form of dementia of the frontal type. Brain pathology may exacerbate pyromania.