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A young girl stands with her back to her parent, arms crossed in defiance. Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) symptoms in children include resistance to everyday demands and a strong desire for autonomy.

Is Your Child Showing Signs of Pathological Demand Avoidance?

In my opinion, imaging completely changes the discussion around mental health. After looking at their scans, patients often see that their problems are medical, not moral. SPECT decreases shame and guilt and increases compliance—one of the main reasons I got hooked on imaging 23 years ago. Imaging also increases the family’s understanding of the condition, along with compassion and forgiveness. We have nothing else in psychiatry to decrease stigma that is this powerful and this immediate. What if mental health was really brain health?

Trump Cut $1 Billion in Mental Health Services for Students. ADDitude Readers Responded.

MAHA Report

3 Takeaways for the ADHD Community

The ADDitude Symptom Checker

ADHD may overlap with anxiety, depression, autism, and more. Use this tool to compare your symptoms to those of 17 common psychological & learning conditions.

Check My Symptoms

Top ADHD Resources

The latest information, research, and news on diagnosing and treating ADHD

ADHD News & Research

Study: Rise in ADHD Diagnoses Reflects Greater Education, Not Prevalence

A male hand holding a pencil, writing an essay. How to get over perfectionism in writing, fueled by ADHD.

Adult Blogs

“A Perfect Lie: Perfectionism, Writing, and ADHD”

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ADHD News & Research

Stimulants Do Not Cause Psychosis: New Research

On-Demand Parenting Webinars

“Big Kids, Big Emotions: Helping Teens with ADHD and Rejection Sensitivity Improve Emotional Regulation” [Video Replay & Podcast #563]

Parenting Books and Resources for ADHD Families

Parenting Products

“If You Only Read One ADHD Parenting Book, I Would Recommend…”

Amazon is flooded with parenting advice books that are no help at all (or even...

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ADDitude for Professionals

How to Change a Woman’s Life in 30 Seconds

One in four women is a survivor of intimate partner violence, yet many victims of...

Oppositional Behavior

A Parent’s Guide to Navigating Pathological Demand Avoidance

These mindset shifts have helped us understand pathological demand avoidance (PDA) and...

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ADHD Symptoms in Adults

Testosterone and ADHD in Men: Is There a Link?

Limited research exists on the implications of testosterone on ADHD symptoms, or on mood,...

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ADHD in Women

Change of Heart: Understanding Cardiovascular Disease in Women with ADHD

Heart disease in perimenopausal women with ADHD is widespread, and often un-recognized....

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Today in Mental Health

“Some Kind of Wonderful: How Music Affects the ADHD Brain” [Video Replay & Podcast #562]
Let’s Talk About Perimenopause and ADHD
The ADHD Effect on Sex & Self-Worth

Your Mental Health Resource Center

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Teach your child to overcome ADHD stigma and shame.

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Every 504 Plan Should Include These ADHD Accommodations

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ADD Test: Do I Have Inattentive ADHD?

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ADHD Test for Adults: Do I Have ADD?

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A Deceptively Simple System for Getting More Done with ADHD

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How to Control Your Anger When ADHD Emotional Reactivity Kicks In

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Free Download: Emotional Regulation & Anger Management Scripts

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How ADHD Ignites RSD: Meaning & Medication Solutions

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Hypersensitivity Is Not Imagined

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“How I Calm Down My ADHD Brain: 14 Quick De-Stressors”

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ADHD Work Stories: The Jobs You Love and Loathe

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The 16 Best Jobs for Creative & Restless ADHD Brains

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18 Questions That Reveal Your Ideal Career

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How to Align Your Career with Your Passions

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ADHD News & Research

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NIH Autism Database Sparks Concern of Privacy Violations, Discrimination

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is collecting Americans’ health data through the Centers for...

Sex Hormones in Women Impact ADHD Symptoms, Medication Efficacy: Study

ADHD-Obesity Link Weakens in Big Cities: New Research

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ADDitude Gift Guides

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Summer 2025 Issue of ADDitude Magazine

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Treating the Hidden Complexities of ADHD

ADHD often coexists with other conditions, complicating treatment efforts. Learn about the medication...

How to Trade Your Teen’s Lies for Trust

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Guest Blogs

A colorful illustration of a family laughing together. Positive attitude adjustments informed by psychology can uplift and motivate children and teens with ADHD.

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ADDitude Advocacy

ADHD article by the New York Times is bias, dangerous

Setting the Record Straight About ADHD and Its Treatments

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MAHA Commission Draws Swift Criticism, Condemnation

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ADHD Videos

An ADHD Guide to Emotional Dysregulation and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

An ADHD Guide to Emotional Dysregulation and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

People with ADHD feel emotions more intensely, more frequently, and more suddenly. In fact, one third...

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Symptom Tests

A young girl stands with her back to her parent, arms crossed in defiance. Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) symptoms in children include resistance to everyday demands and a strong desire for autonomy.

Is Your Child Showing Signs of Pathological Demand Avoidance?

Could your child’s extreme defiance point to pathological demand avoidance? Learn more about PDA...

Female Autism Test: “Am I Autistic?”

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Free Downloads for Adults

Your ADHD Dopamine Menu Template

Use this dopamenu template to create your own list of pleasurable, healthy activities to stimulate...

Free Guide to Hormones & ADHD in Women

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ADDitude ADHD Expert Webinars & Podcasts

Live Webinar on June 17: A Summer to Remember: How to Set Behavioral Boundaries That Unlock Fun

Register below for this webinar on summer activities and routines for children with ADHD on Tuesday,...

Live Webinar on June 26: How Mindfulness and Meditation Build Emotional Regulation in People with ADHD

Live Webinar on July 10: A Self-Confidence Toolkit for Parents: How to Counteract ADHD Criticism for Your Child

See More In ADDitude ADHD Expert Webinars & Podcasts

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