Thread by @Richard_Autism

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety Newson did not systematically assess for autism features because she was trying to show PDA was different to autism, to warrant PDA being a "thing". She originally conceptualised it as a new type of disorder. Spent 15 years researching that behaviour profile.

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety This is all public information, just a lot of it is unpublished materials.
pdaresource.com/files/An%20exa…
&
adc.bmj.com/content/88/7/5…
&
autismeastmidlands.org.uk/wp-content/upl…

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety "Clearly, “hanging together as an entity” is not enough
if that entity is not significantly different from both autism
and Asperger’s syndrome, either separately or apart"
Newson et al, 2003, p599.

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety Newson was not trying to make PDA an autism subgroup, but was trying to show PDA was different to autism. Her research has a seletion bias, it is really poor quality generally.
link.springer.com/article/10.100…
You really need to read this:
thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/pda-new-type-d…

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety These reasons are one reason why I struggle to take anyone seriously who insists PDA is an autism subgroup, because it does not represent what Newson did, or was trying to do. It is the PDA development group who are trying to make PDA an autism subgroup.

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety I am pretty certain Newson would have been perfectly happy to have PDA diagnosed outside of autism, considering she consistently did things to help other stakeholders. Take note @sallyrssll

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety @sallyrssll I started reading Newson's 2003 article supplementary notes to see if "surface sociability" trait is mandatory for a PDA dx. It is not, at least in Faroe Islands paper.

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety @sallyrssll Back to these side notes. I have just broken down in tears & hysterics. One Newson seems to have a broader conceptualisation of PDDs, that is broader than autism. I.e. my critique of her "The “family” of pervasive developmental disorders." is valid.

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety @sallyrssll Also note that Faroe Islands paper did not view manipulative demand avoidance as essential for a PDA dx. Some would challenge if Gillberg et al dx PDA.
link.springer.com/article/10.100…

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety @sallyrssll The point about surface sociability not being an essential PDA trait means, if it is not seen in all diagnosed with PDA, one cannot argue PDA must be an autism subtype due to clustering of RRBIs & this surface sociability trait.

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety @sallyrssll I think this argument is weak anyway as having social communication issues is common in mental health disorders, most do not include them in their dx criteria.

Back to Newson's notes.

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety @sallyrssll This is Newson herself saying PDA is NOT autism, but is a PDD due to her broader conceptualisation of it.
adc.bmj.com/content/archdi…
Supports my view Newson was trying to PDA is different is autism, not to make it an autism subgroup.

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety @sallyrssll I am crying tears of joy at this. It means despite everything I have been put through by the PDA supporters. The name calling, doubting me, complaints @SallyRussll interfering in my research.

It means I am right on PDA.

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety @sallyrssll "PDA is a pervasive developmental disorder but not an
autistic spectrum disorder: to describe it as such would be like describing every person in a family by the name of one of its members."

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety @sallyrssll Quote is important as it is fallacious to assume PDA is an autism subgroup, i.e. Christie cannot say PDA is an ASD due to it being a PDD.

It also means as PDA is not autism, it would have changed diagnostic groups if it had been included in the DSM-5.

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety @sallyrssll It means that majority of PDA research, lobbying & campaigning for the last 10 years is based on mistaken belief.

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety @sallyrssll Actually checked Newson et al (2003) for stats on surface sociability prevalence among sample. Short answer, it is not a universal trait in Newson's research. Which means one cannot use it to argue PDA is an ASD.

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety @sallyrssll Basically around one in sixth of Newson's sample did not have surface sociability traits.
adc.bmj.com/content/archdi…

@tinkerbellbites @milton_damian @martinbeecher @GillLoomesQuinn @PDASociety @sallyrssll I think this is enough for this thread. @threadreaderapp please could you unroll ?