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Pathological demand avoidance is a profile of autism spectrum disorder and a proposed sub-type. Characteristics ascribed to the condition include greater refusal to do what is asked of the person, even to activities the person would normally like, due to extreme levels of anxiety and lack of autonomy. Although PDA has its own traits that are separate from autism, they generally meet the diagnostic criteria by having significant impairments in social interaction and communication and presenting restricted and repetitive behaviors. Some notable differences in PDA compared to classic autism spectrum disorders are that individuals appear to be more sociable, have far better social skills, tend to be more interested in people than objects, are more comfortable with pretend play, and tend to be more imaginative. It is not recognized by either the DSM-5 or the ICD-10 and is unlikely to be separated out now that the umbrella diagnosis of ASD has been adopted.
In 2011, it was suggested that these symptoms could represent the condition oppositional defiant disorder. Elizabeth O'Nions and others argue that unlike ASD, “children with PDA are said to use socially manipulative avoidance strategies”; and unlike ODD, they “resort to extreme, embarrassing or age-inappropriate behaviour”.
The term was proposed in 1980 by the UK child psychologist Elizabeth Ann Newson.