xMinds events, resources and services are always FREE

Home Icon | About | Join | Donate | Contact | En Español  

xMinds Logo - xMinds in teal and dark blue where the X looks like a person with an orange head; followed by the words Partnership for Extraordinary MindsImproving education for autistic students in Montgomery County, MD

What is PDA?

PDA is a specific profile of autistic individuals that originally stood for "Pathological Demand Avoidance," but is now more accurately described as "Persistent Drive for Autonomy.” According to PDA North America, PDA children and adults "avoid everyday demands, require unique supports, have a strong need for autonomy and control, and are socially oriented."

The subject is somewhat controversial:  It is not yet recognized in the U.S. by the the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-V-TR) and is frequently intertwined with ODD (oppositional defiant disorder).

xMinds recently welcomed PDA North America Executive Director and Founder Diane Gould, LCSW. During the virtual event, Diane helped the audience understand PDA and gave parents and providers specific and tangible strategies to use at home and at school.  Find her presentation slides here.

Watch the presentation below or on our YouTube channel.

Resources

WHAT IS PATHOLOGICAL DEMAND AVOIDANCE (PDA)?

Here is a list of general sources defining the profile. Many of these sources come from the UK, where the profile was first described, and which clinically recognizes PDA.  



DEBATE ABOUT PDA

PDA is not clinically recognized in the U.S., and there is much disagreement about the concept.  When the profile was first described, many of the observed behaviors were uncommon in autistic people. While the understanding of autism as a wide spectrum has developed, more research on PDA is required.


SUPPORT STRATEGIES

Articles about treatment strategies for PDA



Parent Support

  • PDA North America: Supporting PDA Students in Schools -- a menu of options that can be used in schools to build trust with teachers. In addition, the document describes the "Low Arousal Approach" for crisis management with PDA students.
  • Journeys with PDA -- a list of printable handouts for parents on such topics as Executive Function and Autistic Burnout, as well as book recommendations
  • PDA Society (UK) is the UK's only specialist PDA charity. The organization provides information and resources about PDA, as well as training and events and support service, which is entirely staffed by PDA people or their caregivers

Providers

  • Casey Ehrlich, Ph.D., the CEO and founder of At Peace Parents, was a leader of the first U.S. peer-reviewed studies of PDA. She came up with this list of resources can support the PDA child as an alternative to "reward-punishment models that don't work for your kid and that make you feel like a crappy parent."

  • Bo Hejlskov Elvén, a clinical psychologist based in Scandinavia

  • Mona Delahooke, a clinical psychologist who is based in Long Beach, Calif., has written books and blog posts, and provides trainings and links to online communities.

  • Dr. Ross Greene is originator of the model of care now called Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) and is now founding director of the nonprofit Lives in the Balance, based on this model.

  • Kristy Forbes is an Australian advocate & educator, who has written a 27-page guide, packed with simple tools and suggestions for your PDA child and their siblings
  • Studio 3 (UK) provides a range of psychological supports for individuals, families and organizations, including therapy and counseling, diagnostic assessments, specialist advice, debriefing, service specification, as well as training for individuals, families and staff.

Personal Stories

Books
      Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software