Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) is an extreme resistance to everyday demands, such as getting dressed or brushing the teeth. Researchers often associate PDA with autism, especially in children.

Sophie, a 10-year-old, avoids straightforward tasks like getting dressed or doing homework. When her parents press her to comply, she might have a meltdown or withdraw to her room. At school, Sophie ...

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), or, as many prefer, Persistent Drive for Autonomy, has gained a lot of traction in social media circles. While some have questioned the role of social media in PDA ...

It often "goes under the radar" in adults, a psychiatrist told us.

McFly drummer Harry Judd’s wife Izzy Johnston revealed this week that one of their three children has pathological demand avoidance (PDA). “To the outsider looking in, they might see that as a sort of ...

Pathological Demand Avoidance — or PDA — is suddenly everywhere. Once a niche term used mostly within autism communities, it’s now trending across TikTok, showing up in therapy rooms, and sparking ...