Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)

Because it's characterized by extreme resistance to everyday demands, PDA is often misunderstood by caregivers as defiance or oppositional behavior. Traditional behavioral treatment approaches can backfire spectacularly with PDA clients, intensifying anxiety and rupturing trust with loved ones and helpers. These articles explore the shifting understanding of PDA as a profile of autism and emerging approaches that honor autonomy while effectively supporting PDA clients and their families. Learn more about the neurological underpinnings of Pathological Demand Avoidance, or Persistent Drive for Autonomy, and how to create therapeutic environments in which clients feel safe and caregivers feel empowered.