What is PDA?

The term PDA stands for Pathological Demand Avoidance. This is widely understood to be a profile found within some autistic people. The most obvious characteristic of PDA is a determined avoidance of so-called ‘common’ demands of life, including expectations and things the person enjoys doing. It is important to be aware that PDA is not just about demand avoidance.

All autistic people, including PDAers, are likely to have differences in communication, restricted interests or behaviors, and experience sensory differences. If someone has a PDA profile, they are also likely to share similar traits, strengths or challenges with other PDAers.

Autism is dimensional and no two experiences will be the same, but understanding PDA in this way can make it easier to figure out what helps and to access support.

The most well-known feature of PDA is difficulties with everyday demands, but PDA is more complex than this. The list below includes the main traits or features of a PDA profile of autism and how these can feel.

PDA traits

• Avoiding the everyday demands of life, even things someone needs or wants to do.
• Having a sociable relationship style which can mask deeper challenges.
• Using social strategies as part of this avoidance.
• Intense emotions and mood swings. 
• Special interests and hyperfocus are often related to other people

In addition to this, PDA children might have delayed language and milestones, and might be more comfortable with role play and pretend. As adults, people might feel a deep need to be in control which is driven by anxiety and rely on masking intensely. 

You can read more about the origins of PDA here. 

PDA as a profile of autism. What does that mean?

In autism research and clinical practice, a ‘profile’ refers to a pattern of characteristics (traits or behaviors) that shape how an individual experiences and responds to the world. People with the same ‘profile’ can be very different from each other but will share some common experiences.

To have a PDA profile you will likely have most or all the ‘characteristics’ of PDA and you will also share some characteristics with the wider autistic population.

As PDA is a profile for some autistic people but not all, it can mean that someone with this profile may need very different support to another autistic person without it. Even when people share the same profile, the way these characteristics show up can differ greatly-each person’s personality, experiences, and environment shape how characteristics are expressed in daily life.

All sorts of things can impact on people’s ability to cope, so looking at a person as a whole is important. Good support will consider all these things and will be flexible, because things change and what is manageable at one time may be overwhelming at another.

You can access a one-page downloadable resource here which introduces PDA and some of the key traits.

There is more detailed information about PDA characteristics here.

Is PDA a diagnosis?

PDA isn’t a diagnosis, but during an autism assessment a person can be identified as having a PDA profile. This may be described in paperwork by saying a person ‘has a PDA profile’, or that they have ‘demand avoidance traits’.

Clinicians are increasingly identifying this and there is greater awareness that it is important to give people knowledge of their PDA profile. It can give someone the words to explain to friends or partners why some things are difficult, which can have a big impact on relationships.

However, not all clinicians and professionals recognize PDA, and overall awareness is not as high as we would like it to be. This can make access to identification inconsistent. While research suggests that PDA is experienced by autistic people, we know from community research that not everyone who self-identifies as PDA considers themselves to be autistic. We fully respect people’s right to self-identify.

PDA can have a profound impact on people’s lives. It can make everyday tasks impossible and lead to conflict that a person doesn’t want but finds impossible to avoid. Things improve with understanding and the right support, and there are many PDAers who thrive as a result.