What is PDA? Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance (Pathological Demand Avoidance/Persistent Drive for Autonomy) PDA is an acronym that stands for Pathological Demand Avoidance, or as many prefer, Pervasive Drive for Autonomy. PDA was identified in the UK in the 1980s by Elizabeth Newson and has recently received more attention in the US and Canada since … Continue reading What is PDA?