Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Pathological Demand Avoidance

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - PDA

General

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a pattern of behavior in which kids go to extremes to ignore or avoid anything they perceive as a demand. This condition is seen most often in people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

15 people with Pathological Demand Avoidance

Learn from others who are experiencing Pathological Demand Avoidance.

Treatment

Children with PDA behaviors on the autism spectrum may not respond well to direct communication about expectations, leading to anxiety and avoidance. A collaborative approach with negotiation can be more effective in making them feel in control and less anxious. Finding out what motivates the child is key, and building on that motivation can help create steps in the scaffold for the child to succeed. It's important to avoid butting heads with the child and to be creative and flexible in implementation by incorporating the child's interests into the intervention.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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