Parental Alienation Syndrome is not listed in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV).
Critics
of PAS are quick to point this out and consider its absence to support
arguments that PAS doesn't exist. The facts are that DSM-IV was published
in 1994. When committees were meeting in the early 1990s, there
were too few articles in peer-review journals, and too few legal rulings
in courts of law that had recognized PAS, to warrant a submission.
Accordingly, I did not submit a proposal at that time. Nor, to
the best of my knowledge, did anyone else do so.
DSM-V committees are scheduled to start meeting in 2006 and the projected
date of publication of DSM-V is 2010.
At this point, there are at least 143
articles in peer-review journals on the PAS. Many countries are
represented.
In addition, there are at least 72
rulings in courts of law that have recognized the PAS. Again,
many countries are represented. These rulings include two successful
Frye hearings (U.S.) and one successful Mohan hearing (Canada)
There is
good reason to believe that these lists will be even longer by 2006.
The DSM-V program coordinator at the American Psychiatric Association
has informed me that a PAS File has been set up. This, of course,
is good news in that it indicates that the APA is taking PAS seriously.
The bad news is that the file includes biased submissions, and even
sensational newspaper articles that do not provide a balanced view of
PAS. I have good reason to believe that critics of PAS have been
much more active that the supporters in sending submissions to that
file.
Accordingly, I am suggesting that therapists who have seen PAS patients
write the APA now describing their experiences with such patients, with
particular focus on the number of patients they have seen who
exhibit specific symptoms of the syndrome, e.g., campaign of
denigration, frivolous excuses, lack of ambivalence etc.
I am suggesting that alienated parents also write now, again with particular
focus on the specific syndrome symptoms they have observed in
their children.
Lawyers who represent alienated parents should also write. If
PAS is not accepted into DSM-V, their position in courts of law will
be seriously weakened.
I am suggesting also that other interested parties also write now, people
such as relatives of PAS families and older children who subsequently
came to appreciate that they had been programmed to become PAS children.
Anyone who asks what she (he) can do to help PAS families should be
advised to write the APA. All those who write should focus on
the specific syndrome symptoms that manifested themselves.
All those who write would keep in mind that the primary purpose of the
letter is to help the committee make a decision as to whether the syndrome
exists and hence justifies consideration for inclusion in DSM-V.
Although the committee will not meet until 2006, it is important that
the members have input from both sides of the PAS controversy. The critics
are sending in their criticisms now and I suspect will continue
to do so. Those who recognize the PAS must similarly write now,
and there must be continuing letters over the next 4 years if the committees
are to have balanced input.
Send your letters to:
DSM-V Coordinator
American Psychiatric Association
1400 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
Fax 202-682-6850
e-mail: dsm@psy.org
Request that your letter be put in the PAS file.
Richard A. Gardner, M.D.
