The EDA-8

The Extreme Demand Avoidance 8-item measure (EDA-8) is a parent-administered questionnaire that measures traits and behaviours related to Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) in children (ages 5–17).

Take the test here:

Who the test is designed for

•  Caregivers of children aged 5–17.^[2]Extreme Demand Avoidance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Refinement of a Caregiver-Report Measure (O’Nions et al., 2021)

What it tests

The EDA-8 is an 8-item revised measure of the observer-rated Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionnaire (EDA-Q) for use with adult populations.^[3]Development of the ‘Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionnaire’ (EDA-Q): preliminary observations on a trait measure for Pathological Demand Avoidance (O’Nions et al., 2013)^[4]Extreme Demand Avoidance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Refinement of a Caregiver-Report Measure (O’Nions et al., 2021) It’s designed to measure behaviours in clinical accounts of extreme/pathological demand avoidance. But note that it’s intended to measure EDA traits for research purposes, and is not a diagnostic instrument.^[5]Extreme Demand Avoidance 8-item measure (EDA-8) | PDA Society

In 2003, PDA was proposed as a separate entity within the pervasive developmental disorders, instead of being classed under pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS),^[6]Pathological demand avoidance syndrome: a necessary distinction within the pervasive developmental disorders (Newson, Le Maréchal & David, 2003) but it’s still considered to be an offshoot of the autism spectrum. Having said that, some argue that it should be separated from autism.^[7]Is Pathological Demand Avoidance a “meaningful subgroup” of autism? (Woods, 2021)

Versions & translations

A version for adults is also available. The Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionnaire for Adults (EDA-QA) contains 26 items. You can take it here:

• EDA-QA (age 18+)

Taking the test

The EDA-8 consists of 8 statements, giving you 4 choices for each statement:

1. Not True
2. Somewhat True
3. Mostly True
4. Very True

Scoring

• Scoring range: 0–24
• Threshold score: 19
  • Scores over 19 could indicate the need for more in-depth measurement of EDA, but do not necessarily suggest a PDA-profile.^[8]Extreme Demand Avoidance 8-item measure (EDA-8) | PDA Society

All items are scored as follows:

• Not true = 0
• Somewhat true = 1
• Mostly true = 2
• Very true = 3

You can take the test using two methods of scoring:

1. Self-scoring, if you want documentation of your answers
2. EDA-8

Limitations

Research shows that the EDA-8 scale can measure the severity of EDA characteristics well at modest levels. At high levels, a more in-depth measurement is needed.^[9]Extreme Demand Avoidance 8-item measure (EDA-8) | PDA Society

Validity

How reliable, accurate, valid, and up-to-date is the test?

The EDA-8 showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = .90), and convergent and divergent validity with other measures.^[10]Extreme Demand Avoidance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Refinement of a Caregiver-Report Measure (O’Nions et al., 2021) In terms of convergent validity, the correlations between the EDA-8 and the following other conceptually relevant measures were calculated:

• Emotion Dysregulation Inventory (EDI): Reactivity — r_s = .66
• Demand-Specific Non-compliance (reactivity in routine contexts) — r_s = .49
• Socially Inflexible Non-compliance (reactivity in less routine, or more social situations) — r_s = .57

Do note that the validity of pathological demand avoidance itself is taken into question by some, arguing that it can be seen as an attempt to pathologize autistic children’s resistance.^[11]Pathological demand avoidance: What and who are being pathologised and in whose interests? (Moore, 2020) Also, some argue that it should be separated from autism.^[12]Is Pathological Demand Avoidance a “meaningful subgroup” of autism? (Woods, 2021)

Discussion

Eva:

While pathological/extreme demand avoidance is defined as being on the autism spectrum, there are some major differences between the two. I suspect that because we tend to experience overwhelm and executive challenges (avoiding things that stress us, or perpetually putting things off), we identify strongly with the name Demand Avoidance.

But the condition is much more than what the name suggests. It can actually look quite a bit like a cluster C personality disorder with some cluster B features (i.e. BPD and histrionic). So be careful with how you interpret the statements of the EDA-8.

Extreme Demand Avoidance 8-item measure

Please answer the questions thinking about your child’s behaviour during the last six months. Please read each item carefully and fill in the answer that best applies.

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