The subclassification of child firesetters.

The possibility that child firesetters are a heterogeneous group was investigated in a cross-sectional case note and item sheet study of all children referred to an Inner London clinic between 1973 and 1981. Firesetters were most usefully subdivided by age, and secondarily by reason for referral. There were no links between enuresis and dangerousness or cruelty to animals. Methodological issues and the implications of the findings are discussed, with particular reference both to the development of the disorder and to the subclassifications drawn for conduct disturbance.