O’Nions 2016: Identifying features of ‘pathological demand avoidance’ using the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO)

Onions2014-51611688European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 2016 April; 25(4): 407-19

The term “pathological demand avoidance” (PDA) describes children or adults within the autism spectrum who exhibit obsessive resistance to everyday demands and requests.  In this study, the authors determined specific differences in their behavior in order to help doctors identify them.

QUOTE:   “(People with PDA are) characterised by lack of co-operation, use of apparently manipulative behaviour, socially shocking behaviour, difficulties with other people, anxiety and sudden behavioural changes from loving to aggression.”

NOTE:  PDA (also sometimes called EDA or “extreme demand avoidance”) is not currently diagnosed in the US, although it is increasingly recognized in the UK.  If you believe that this is your child, print the full texts of the studies in the category EDA/PDA and share them with your child’s doctor.

MedLine || Full Text

Studies on PDA/EDA:

  1. O’Nions et al (2016)
  2. Gillberg et al (2015)
  3. Reilly et al (2014)
  4. Gillberg (2014)
  5. O’Nions et al (2014)
  6. O’Nions et al (2014a)
  7. Newson et al (2003)
Resources for PDA/EDA:

  1. PDA Society: Awareness Matters
  2. PDA Guidance (blog, info)
  3. Help For Psychology (blog)
    1. Help For PDA  (in UK)
  4. Liz O’Nions, PhD

Book:
(click on picture to order)

This entry was posted in 2016-2020, Aggression, Autism, EDA: Extreme Demand Avoidance (also PDA), PDA: Pathological Demand Avoidance, Research Studies. Bookmark the permalink.

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