Gardner's Symptomatic Disorder Case Study

In order to develop an effective approach to treating PAS, Gardner states that a professional needs to examine the severity of the PAS in the child. Gardner suggest that the disorder has there subtypes—mild, moderate, and severe. In cases of mild PAS, where the child visits the alienated parent voluntarily, Gardner states court orders are not necessary and “recommend[s] that the alienating parent still retain primary custodial status because that parent has usually been the primary caretaker throughout the children’s lives.” As the diagnosis progresses to moderate form of PAS, Gardner purposes two recommendations “depending upon the severity of the children’s alienation and on the tenacity of the alienating parent.” In milder cases, Gardner recommends the child “remain with the alienating
As the moderate case transitions to a more severe form of PAS, Gardner states that the “alienating parent is so tenacious with regard to alienating the children,” and “is so compelled to continue with the programming that custodial transfer [with limited to no visitation] is the only hope for the [child] if there is to be any alleviation of their PAS symptomatology.” Gardner classifies these as moderate cases of PAS because the alienated child continues to visit with the alienated parent. In severe cases of PAS the child will refuse to visit or “cause significant commotion and disruption in the household of the alienated parent” when they visit. In severe cases of PAS, the child “may try to poison the target parent’s food, burn down the house, or run away, thereby exposing themselves to danger.” Since placing the child with the alienated parent leads to extreme grief, Gardner recommends “a transitional-site program as a step toward residence in the home of the alienated parent” with no visitation with the alienating