Pyromania

This code represents a rare impulse control disorder characterized by a recurrent and irresistible urge to set fires. Individuals with this condition experience tension or affective arousal before the act, followed by pleasure, gratification, or relief during or after setting the fire and witnessing its consequences. The fire-setting is not for monetary gain, sociopolitical ideology, or to conceal other criminal activity.

Assign this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of pyromania, meeting the diagnostic criteria for an impulse control disorder involving intentional and repeated fire-setting. Supporting documentation should detail the individual's preoccupation with fire, the irresistible urge to set fires, and the associated emotional states (tension before, pleasure/relief after).

• Ensure the documentation explicitly rules out other motivations for fire-setting, such as financial gain, revenge, or political statements.
• Carefully review "Excludes2" notes to differentiate pyromania from fire-setting associated with antisocial personality disorder, substance intoxication, conduct disorders, or other mental health conditions.
• Do not code if the fire-setting is a symptom of another primary mental disorder, such as schizophrenia or a mental disorder due to a known physiological condition.