Is Parental Alienation Disorder a Valid Concept? Not According to Scientific Evidence. A Review of Parental Alienation, DSM-5 and ICD-11 by William Bernet

@article{Pepiton2012IsPA,
  title={Is Parental Alienation Disorder a Valid Concept? Not According to Scientific Evidence. A Review of Parental Alienation, DSM-5 and ICD-11 by William Bernet},
  author={M. Brianna Pepiton and Lindsey J. Alvis and Kenneth E. Allen and Gregory Logid},
  journal={Journal of Child Sexual Abuse},
  year={2012},
  volume={21},
  pages={244 - 253}
}
This article reviews a recent book arguing how a concept known as parental alienation syndrome—now parental alienation disorder—should be included in official psychiatric/psychological and medical classification diagnostic manuals. Anecdotal cases and opinion are presented as research and scientific evidence, and stories are presented as research studies. In addition, the book often contradicts itself in different sections. The author is not familiar with scientific methodology, confuses… 
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30 Citations

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    The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
  • 2013
Four common misunderstandings regarding parental alienation are addressed: that there is a lack of research to support it as a diagnosis; that adopting parental alienation as adiagnosis will lead to serious adverse consequences; that the advocates of parental alienated are driven by self-serving or malevolent motives; and that Richard Gardner should be criticized for self-publishing his description of parental alienation syndrome.

Examining the validity of parental alienation syndrome

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  • Roy Lubit
  • Psychology
    Journal of Child Custody
  • 2019
Abstract Despite widespread rejection of Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS), some custody evaluators use the presence of its components to invalidate abuse allegations and blame the preferred parent.…

Are intensive parental alienation treatments effective and safe for children and adolescents?

  • J. Mercer
  • Psychology
    Journal of Child Custody
  • 2019
Abstract Strong claims have been made for the possibility of diagnostic discrimination between children who refuse contact with a nonpreferred divorced parent due to parental alienation (PA) created…

When courts accept what science rejects: Custody issues concerning the alleged “parental alienation syndrome”

ABSTRACT “Parental alienation syndrome” (PAS) is unscientific and is an affront to children, women who hold the custody of children of separated couples, science, human rights, and the justice system…

Parental Alienation: In the child’s worst interest

  • Teresa C. Silva
  • Psychology
    Parenting - Challenges of Child Rearing in a Changing Society [Working Title]
  • 2021
Parental alienation (PA) is a form of childhood emotional abuse in which one parent instrumentally uses the child to inflict psychological harm on the other parent for revenge. The consequences of…

Destructive divorce in the Family Life Cycle and its implications: criticisms of Parental Alienation

Divorce is a challenging stage of development for the family. Therefore, some difficulties may arise, taking the family into "destructive divorce". In these cases, some authors can see the rising of…

How Do Family Court Judges Theorize about Parental Alienation? A Qualitative Exploration of the Territory

Parental alienation (PA) and its conceptualization or understanding of the process underlying this dynamic has long been controversial, but it has also been frequently brought to courtrooms. This…

References

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A Critical Analysis of Parental Alienation Syndrome and Its Admissibility in the Family Court

Abstract Over the past three decades, parental alienation syndrome (PAS) has been proposed to explain behaviors by a child who refuses to spend time with a parent and actually denigrates that parent…

Parental Alienation in Light of Attachment Theory

Abstract Few ideas have captured the attention and charged the emotions of the public, of mental health and legal professionals as thoroughly as the concept of parental alienation and Gardner's…

Parental Alienation, DSM-V, and ICD-11

Parental alienation is an important phenomenon that mental health professionals should know about and thoroughly understand, especially those who work with children, adolescents, divorced adults, and…

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