PAS has been defined as “a mental condition in which a child, usually one whose parents are engaged in a high conflict divorce, allies himself or herself strongly with one parent, and rejects a relationship with the other parent, without legitimate justification.”
One argument in favor of PAS being recognized as a legitimate mental health disorder is the potential for increased medical insurance coverage for treatment of PAS. A further argument is that it’s recognition in the DSM will lend credibility to parental alientation in the divorce process.
Opponents of PAS being designated as a syndrome or disorder cite the lack of emperical research and that the behaviors of all family members, including those of the alienated parent, may lead to the family dysfunction and the rejection of one of the parents.
In Connecticut, our best interest statute does not mention parental alienation. However, amongst the factors a judge may consider in making parenting plan decisions include the willingness and ability of each parent to facilitate and encourage a continuing parent-child relationship between the child and the other parent. A judge may also consider any manipulation or coercive behavior of the parents in an effort to involve the child in the parent’s dispute. While not called PAS both of these factors have the smell of PAS.
Should parental alienation syndrome (PAS) be included in the new edition of the DSM?
Read an article on PAS here: http://www.slate.com/id/2294831/