Adults with intellectual & developmental disabilities who set fires.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation into the treatment needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who set fires: Evaluating current theory and practice in secure hospitals and community teams across England.
IRAS ID
255255
Contact name
Josephine Collins
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Kent
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research Summary
Current research suggests deliberate firesetting is one of the most commonly committed criminal offences by individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD; Murphy & Clare, 1996). However, research to date focuses on understanding the firesetting behaviour of mainstream adults, adolescence or children (e.g. Gannon, Ó. Ciardha, Doley & Alleyne, 2012; Heath et al, 1983). Study one aims to determine if current theory of deliberate firesetting behaviour of mainstream adults can be applied to offenders with IDD. Participants recruited from inpatient hospitals and community Learning Disability Forensic Teams across England will be interviewed about the circumstances leading up to and surrounding their offence of deliberate firesetting behaviour. If current theory does not adequately explain the firesetting behaviour of all participants a new theory will be developed using Grounded Theory Analysis. Study two aims to determine whether current questionnaires used to assess an individuals’ risk of deliberate firesetting behaviour are sufficiently adapted and suitable to use with this sub-group of offenders. Practitioners will evaluate the questionnaires currently being used to measure risk of deliberate firesetting behaviour, highlighting areas in need of improvement. An adapted questionnaire will be developed, reviewed and piloted. 100 adults (50% of whom will have a diagnosed IDD) will complete the questionnaire to test if it is both appropriate and reliable. Study three will explore the use of the Firesetting Intervention Programme for Mentally Disordered Offenders (FIP-MO; Gannon et al, 2013) as a suitable and effective treatment for adults with IDD who set fires. Data will be collected from offenders who have completed the FIP-MO (Gannon et al, 2013) and experts who have facilitated the treatment programme. Their views and experiences of the programme will be explored. This research will lead to improved understanding of adults with IDD who set fires and implications for evidence-based assessment and treatment will be highlighted.
Summary of Results
Deliberate firesetting behaviour is an ongoing international problem, which has devastating consequences for victims and wider society. Adults with IDD who engage in firesetting have received little attention from researchers and practicing professionals, and this is particularly notable when the literature about firesetting is compared to other types of offending behaviour. The purpose of this research was to expand our knowledge and understanding of firesetting by adults with IDD across three empirical separate but related empirical studies.
The aims of Study 1 were to validate Barnoux et al.’s (2015) and Tyler et al.’s (2014) micro-level theories of adult firesetting with a sample of adults with IDD who have set fires, and offer a preliminary unified descriptive model of the offence chain for adults with IDD who set fires. Thirteen adults with IDD in England were interviewed about the affective, cognitive, behavioural, and contextual factors leading up to and surrounding a recorded firesetting incident. Offence account interviews were analysed using a Grounded Theory approach. The resulting model consisted of four main phases: (1) background, (2) early adulthood, (3) pre-offence period, and (4) offence, and post offence period. The model accounted for prominent precursors to firesetting within this population including mental health deterioration, poor problem solving, and new motivations for firesetting. Unlike other offence chain theories, the Firesetting Offence Chain for Adults with IDD highlighted the significance of post offence behaviour and cognitions (e.g., an attempt to extinguish the fire).
The aims of Study 2a were to evaluate the accessibility of scales that appraised fire-related factors likely to be associated with firesetting behaviour for adults with IDD, and to develop an accessible self-report scale of fire-related factors likely to be associated with firesetting behaviour. Qualitative and quantitative data from three rounds of a Delphi exercise with practitioners and a focus group with adults with IDD were used to generate consensus about the accessibility of item adaptations made to the Fire Interest Rating Scale (Murphy & Clare, 1996), Fire Attitudes Scale (Muckley, 1997), and the Identification with Fire Questionnaire (Gannon et al., 2011). Findings suggested the accessibility of current measures could be improved to better meet the needs of adults with IDD, and adaptations to all questionnaire items were needed. Following feedback, revisions to current measures were implemented leading to the development of the Adapted Firesetting Assessment Scale for adults with IDD.
The aims of Study 2b were to investigate the reliability, validity, comprehensibility, relevance, and comprehensiveness of the Adapted Firesetting Assessment Scale when used with adults with IDD. Fifty-nine adults with IDD, some of whom had a history of firesetting completed the Adapted Firesetting Assessment Scale (AFAS) on two occasions. Feedback about the questionnaire was sought from both participants and professionals. The AFAS had acceptable internal consistency and good test-retest reliability. The attitudes towards fire, fire normalisation, poor fire safety subscales, and total scores discriminated firesetters from non-firesetters. Content analysis of feedback indicated the AFAS was easy to understand, relevant, accessible, and comprehensible. Findings offered some preliminary evidence to support the use of the AFAS with adults with IDD who have a history of firesetting.
The following conclusions were drawn from the combined findings. While there is evidence of a lack of research in this area relative to those without IDD, adults with IDD who set fires present with some prominent factors including circumscribed interests in fire or emergency services, negative social environments (including negative caregiver experiences and negative educational experiences), fire-related vulnerabilities (e.g., serious fire interest), or other vulnerabilities (such as other comorbidities, communication difficulties, and social exclusion). Adults with IDD also present with prominent motivations for setting a fire, including being motivated by a desire to express emotion, cause change, or illicit support from others. In addition, their cognitive and affective responses to starting a fire suggested adults with IDD had difficulties in understanding the consequences of their behaviour. From the findings, it can be concluded that the Adapted Firesetting Assessment Scale contributed towards the evidence base pertaining to the assessment of adults with IDD. Preliminary evidence suggested the Adapted Firesetting Assessment Scale was accessible, comprehensive, relevant, and reliable, and is likely a useful resource for future researchers and clinicians.REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
19/IEC08/0019
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jun 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion