Klinefelter syndrome and fire setting behaviors: a case report and scoping review

Abstract

This scoping literature review explores the correlation of a behavioral alteration commonly found in people with Klinefelter syndrome (KS), specifically fire setting. KS is the most common sex chromosome aneuploidy, presenting with a heterogeneous pattern of neuropsychiatric disorders. Several studies have specifically described fire-setting behavior in KS. A scoping literature review on KS and fire-setting behavior was conducted, consulting electronic databases. The research extended from 1988 to December 2023 and was limited to the English language. Finally, described is the experience of a young man who was diagnosed with KS and who presented with incendiary behavior despite having no psychiatric history. This article aims to investigate potential gaps in knowledge on this topic, considering its implications in the forensic field. Summarizing the review of literary sources,13 relevant case reports are included. No other reviews on this topic in forensic psychiatry were found. This search helped in assessing criminal liability in a similar case discussed in 2022. Given the further progress in forensic psychiatry, there is an incentive to better understand whether plausible triggers or a preliminary psychopathological predisposition for antisocial traits, for committing arsons, or even to develop a proper psychiatric issue, such as pyromania, might be found in KS.