Research

Academic papers from research institutions developing the evidence base

Found 40 listings

An exploration of the PDA profile in children

An exploration of the Pathological (or Extreme) Demand Avoidant profile in children referred for an autism diagnostic assessment using data from ADOS-2 assessments and their developmental histories This paper represents the first step in analysing and reporting on data gathered between 2015 and 2017 on 351 children referred to Dr [...]

Extreme/‘pathological’ demand avoidance: an overview

Extreme/‘pathological’ demand avoidance: an overview In this article, Elizabeth O'Nions and Judy Eaton provide an overview of PDA, discuss the clinical presentation of individuals with a PDA profile, and differences compared to children with documented attachment difficulties. They then discuss empirical work describing how anxiety-driven avoidance of routine demands can [...]

Parenting strategies in ASD

Parenting Strategies Used by Parents of Children with ASD: Differential Links with Child Problem Behaviour In this paper, Liz O'Nions explores a new scale which is designed to measure strategies for problem behaviour in ASD. The results are especially interesting as more than half of those involved in the study [...]

CAMH Journal discussions

In 2019, a paper from Lisa Stuart, Victoria Grahame and others at Newcastle University described how intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety may have a role in the demand avoidant behaviour of those identified as having a PDA profile. The May 2020 edition of the journal Child and Adolescent Mental Health [...]

Autism, PDA presentations and Theory of Mind

The Relationship between Theory of Mind and Traits Associated with Autism Spectrum Condition and Pathological Demand Avoidance Presentations UCL Doctorate Thesis in Clinical Psychology by Ellie Bishop Extracts from the Impact Statement: The overall aim of this thesis was to contribute to an understanding of the relationship between theory of mind [...]

Emotion Regulation and Executive Function

Emotion Regulation and Executive Function in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Pathological Demand Avoidance Traits UCL Doctorate Thesis in Clinical Psychology by Anna Goodson Extracts from impact Statement The overarching aim of this research was to contribute to current understanding of cognitive processes and behaviours relevant to young people [...]

Summary of research developments

This summary was prepared by Dr. Liz O’Nions, Post-doctoral Fellow at the Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven, Belgium. It relates to the work done up until April 2016. Early research on PDA was carried out by Elizabeth Newson and colleagues and published through conference proceedings and informal [...]

Tool to support diagnosis of ASD / PDA / Attachment disorders

Modification of the Coventry Grid Interview to include the Pathological Demand Avoidant profile The Coventry Grid Interview was designed to be used by clinicians as part of a comprehensive assessment process and not as a stand-alone diagnostic tool. There is often diagnostic confusion over the differences between children presenting with autism [...]

An assessment pathway for children

Developing a multi-agency assessment pathway for children and young people thought to have a Pathological Demand Avoidance profile Editorial comment: "Lisa Summerhill is the Lead Clinical Psychologist working in a specialist autism assessment service provided by the NHS. Kate Collett is the coordinator of the specialist post diagnostic autism team [...]

Pathological Demand Avoidance: symptoms but not a syndrome

Pathological Demand Avoidance: symptoms but not a syndrome Summary Pathological (or extreme) demand avoidance is a term sometimes applied to complex behaviours in children within—or beyond—autism spectrum disorder. The use of pathological demand avoidance as a diagnosis has, at times, led to altered referral practice and misunderstandings between professionals and the [...]

Correspondence: Demand avoidance is not necessarily defiance

Correspondence: Demand avoidance is not necessarily defiance Jonathan Green and colleagues have usefully outlined possible mechanisms that might represent vulnerability factors promoting habitual avoidance of routine demands in autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. However, we are concerned that conceptualising pathological (or extreme) demand avoidance as a set of [...]

Development of the ‘Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionnaire’

Development of the 'Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionnaire' (EDA-Q): Preliminary observations on a trait measure for Pathological Demand Avoidance This paper provides in-depth information about the development of ‘The Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionnaire’ (EDA-Q). It was published in 2013; a time when the awareness of PDA was increasing amongst professionals. The purpose [...]

Identifying features of ‘PDA’ using the Diagnostic Interview (DISCO)

Identifying features of ‘pathological demand avoidance’ using the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO) This paper discusses the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO) and existing items within the model which are more specific to PDA when compared to the rest of the autism spectrum. It [...]

PDA Behavioural Features: poster presentation

Extreme/ ‘Pathological’ Demand Avoidance: An Examination of the Behavioural Features Using a Semi-Structured Interview This poster summarises a paper which examines the behavioural features associated with extreme/’pathological’ demand avoidance. Parents of children with an ASD diagnosis who displayed features of extreme /’pathological’ demand avoidance, were questioned using a semi-structured interview model. [...]

PDA behavioural profile

Pathological demand avoidance: Exploring the behavioural profile The aim of this paper was to report the profiles of children diagnosed with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) compared to children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Conduct Problems (CPs) and Callous Un-emotional Traits (CUs).  The study addressed some of the controversy surrounding the [...]

Reflections on 2014 paper by O’Nions et al

Commentary: PDA – public display of affection or pathological demand avoidance? – reflections on O'Nions et al. (2014) This commentary piece contains a succinct summary of the history of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). It is an interesting read for professionals and parents as it raises points for discussion regarding the incidence, [...]

Dimensions of difficulty

Dimensions of difficulty in children reported to have an autism spectrum diagnosis and features of extreme pathological demand avoidance Background A subset of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) resemble descriptions of extreme/‘pathological’ demand avoidance, displaying obsessive avoidance of everyday demands and requests, strategic or ‘socially manipulative’ behaviour and sudden changes [...]

Commentary: Conceptualising demand avoidance

In 2017, Dr O'Nions and colleagues published a paper entitled 'Dimensions of difficulty in children reported to have an autism spectrum diagnosis and features of extreme/‘pathological’ demand avoidance' (available here) The following year, Malik and Baird, published a commentary on this paper, entitled Commentary: PDA ‐ what's in a name? Dimensions of [...]

Measurement of Adult Traits

The Measurement of Adult Pathological Demand Avoidance Traits This paper reports two studies that were carried out to test the validity of the EDA-QA (Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionnaire for Adults) when screening for PDA in adults. Participants in the study were volunteers recruited from a variety of specialist online forums [...]

Need for distinguishing PDA

Pathological demand avoidance syndrome: a necessary distinction within the pervasive developmental disorders The aim of this paper was to gain recognition for pathological demand avoidance (PDA) as a separate entity within the Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs) (now termed Autism Spectrum Disorders, ASD). Elizabeth Newson and colleagues had recognised a group [...]

Papers from Autism East Midlands

The early research on PDA was conducted by Prof Elizabeth Newson and her colleagues at the University of Nottingham and later the diagnostic centre that bears her name. The Elizabeth Newson centre is part of Autism East Midlands. Links to these papers are available from their website: Pathological Demand [...]

Demand avoidance phenomena

A number of presentations and papers by Richard Woods looking at demand avoidance from the viewpoint of concern about pathologising and sub-typing autism and, more recently, thinking about identification. Previously a Master's student at Sheffield Hallam University, Richard continues to take an interest in the topic. Browse the list of work [...]

Prevalence Study

Extreme (“pathological”) demand avoidance in autism: a general population study in the Faroe Islands A study was carried out to determine the frequency of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) within a group of individuals identified as having met the diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This is a thought-provoking read [...]

Developing independence

Developing independence through the use of a colour-coded system with a fifteen-year-old pupil with a diagnosis of Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome (PDA) in a mainstream school   Author: Elisabeth Jones Published by: Good Autism Practice Journal   Article not available