Given the relative absence of treatment outcome studies, information about the specificity and utility of interventions for children who set fires has not been reported. In a treatment outcome study with young boys referred for firesetting that compared brief home visitation from a firefighter, fire safety education (FSE), and cognitive—behavioral treatment (CBT), we examined the specificity, potential moderators, and predictors of recidivism. FSE exerted specific effects on some fire knowledge and safety measures, as expected; CBT tended to show specific effects only on positive problem solutions. Potential moderators of FSE and CBT were suggested in an exploratory analysis (e.g.,exposure to fire models/materials,child's general fire knowledge, and family functioning). Fire history,fire attraction, and externalizing behaviors were among the predictors of firesetting recidivism. Implications of these findings for assessment and intervention are discussed in the context of future research directions.
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