Draft of the Proposal for Parental Alienation Relational Problem to be Added to DSM-5-TR.
Proposal for Parental Alienation Relational Problem to be Included in “Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention” in DSM-5-TR
AUTHORSHIP OF THIS DOCUMENT
The principal authors of this document are William Bernet, M.D., DLFAPA, and Amy J. L. Baker, Ph.D. In this regard, Dr. Bernet and Dr. Baker are representing the Parental Alienation Study Group (PASG). PASG is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) corporation with more than 900 members from 65 countries. The mission of PASG is to educate the public and mental health and legal practitioners regarding the causes, evaluation, prevention, and treatment of parental alienation. (See www.pasg.info.)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ADDITION
This document proposes that parental alienation be considered a relational problem in the chapter of DSM-5-TR, “Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention.” This is the proposed wording for parental alienation relational problem (PARP):
Parental Alienation Relational Problem
This category may be used when a child—usually one whose parents are engaged in a high-conflict separation or divorce—allies strongly with one parent and rejects a relationship with the other parent without a good reason. The diagnosis of parental alienation relational problem usually requires five criteria: the child avoids, resists, or refuses a relationship with a parent; the presence of a prior positive relationship between the child and the now rejected parent; the absence of abuse or neglect or seriously deficient parenting on the part of the now rejected parent; the use of multiple alienating behaviors by the favored parent; and the manifestation of behavioral signs of alienation by the child.
