ARSON TREND INCREASING - A REAL CHALLENGE TO PSYCHIATRY

This research evaluated the arson trend in Finland since the 1960s by analyzing the Official Crime Statistics of Finland registered by the p olice and examined more detailed about arsonists (n = 98), who had bee n in the forensic psychiatric pretrial examination by using homicide o ffenders (n = 55) as control subjects. From 1965 to 1991 the percentag e of arson in relation to all crimes increased fivefold and in the sam e timeframe the amount of arson increased nearly tenfold. According to the police in Finland there are committed over 700 arsons every year, of which 90% are committed by men. The percentage of women has howeve r increased 0.2% yearly. Women today commit about 10% and juveniles 10 to 15% of all arsons. The arsonists differed from the homicide offend ers regarding rural residence (P = 0.009), poor education (P = 0.004), absence of regular work al the time of the crime (P = 0.004), suicida lity (P = 0.001), alcohol problems (P = 0.002), psychiatric care (P = 0.000,02) and arsonists more commonly found to be not responsible for the crime committed (P = 0.01).