PAS Konferenz

Dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

these are the last actual informations on the issue of “Parental Alienation” as I retire from this professional field for health reasons. If, in the future, you are interested to get more Information of the development of “Parental Alienation Scenarios” - please click the web side website https://ckm.vumc.org/pasg/

As a specialist in psychiatry, neurology, psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy from Europe/Germany, I have for many years been concerned with the subject of parental alienation, both in theory and in practice (see also my publications on www.pas-konferenz.de)
.Given the “difficult situation” of cases of parental alienation (particularly in German-speaking countries), may I refer you, for the sake of simplicity, to my article “Parental alienation (syndrome) – A serious form of psychological child abuse”, recently published in the Austrian peer-reviewed journal “Neuropsychiatrie” (2018) 32 (3): 133 – 148.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40211-018-0267-0. English translation: in: Mental Health Fam Med (2018) 14: 725 - 739, http://mhfmjournal.com/pdf/MHFM-117.pdf (double blinded peer-reviewed).

Another (peer-reviewed) article written in English is a review of the well-known “Parental Alienation – Handbook for Mental Health and Legal Professionals”, C. C. Thomas Publ., Springfield, IL., USA, 2013, by D. Lorandos, W. Bernet & S. R. Sauber, which I would like to recommend to you. (in: EC PAEDIATRICS (2018) 7.8: 820 - 822. (https://www.ecronicon.com/ecpe/pdf/ECPE-07-00320.pdf). This article was updated and published in German language in Neuropsychiatrie (2019), 33 (1): A13 - A14 and in English language in Journal of Family Medicine and Disease Prevention (2019) 5 (6): 115 - 117, https://www.clinmedjournals.org/articles/jfmdp/journal-of-family-medicine- and-disease-prevention-jfmdp-5-115.php?jid=jfmdp.

A special case of severe “Parental Alienation” and its consequences was published in International Journal for Case Reports (2019), Vol. 3, No. 1: 4, http://www.imedpub.com/articles/international-classification-of-diseasesparental- alienation.pdf
Two other case report articles where published in Oct. and Nov. 2020 in Journal of Case Reports & Imaging 4:026 Parental Alienation - A worldwide Health Problem https://www.henrypublishinggroups.com/parental-alienation-a- worldwide-health-problem/ , and in Annals of Case Reports 14:566 Parental Alienation: A Serious Form of Child Psy- chological Abuse - A Worldwide Health Problem https://www.gavinpublish-ers.com/assets/articles_pdf/1606556800article_pdf1548784057.pdf

Some other scientific works about interventions in severe Parental Alienation-cases:

Warshak, R. A. (2015 a) Ten parental alienation fallacies that compromise decisions in court and in therapy. Profes- sional Psychology, Research and Practise 46 (4): 235 - 49.

Warshak, R. A. (2015 b) Parental Alienation: overview, management intervention and practice tips. Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 28: 181 - 248.

Warshak, R. A. (2018, October). Reclaiming Parent-Child Relationships: Outcomes of Family Bridges with Alienated Children. American Journal of Divorce & Remarriage. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2018.1529505; https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/XgUAi2nnTyNhmmHT8JSd/full

Warshak, R. A. (2019, October). When Evaluators Get It Wrong: False Positive IDs and Parental Alienation. Psychol- ogy, public Policy, and Law. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/law0000216

Warshak, R. A. (2020) Parental Alienation: How to prevent, manage, and remedy it. In: Lorandos, D. & Bernet, W., Science and Law, C. C. Thomas Publ., Springfield, IL.

Templer, K., Matthewson, M., Haines, K. & Cox G. (2017). Recommendations for best practice in response to paren- tal alienation: findings from a systematic review. Journal of Fam. Therapy 39 (1) 103 - 122, https://doi/abs/10.1111/1467-6427.12137

Reay, K. (2015): Family reflections: a promising therapeutic program designed to treat severely alienated children and their family system. American Journal of Fam. Therapy, 43 (2): 197 – 207.

Gottlieb, L. J. (2013) The application of structural family therapy to the treatment of parental alienation syndrome. In: Baker AJL, Sauber SR (Eds.) Working with alienated children and families - a clinical guidebook. New York: Routledge, p. 209 - 31.

Matic, A. E. & Miricå, S. C. (2016): Specific Deontological/Ethical regulations concerning the involvement, duties and the active role of certain categories of civil servants regarding the protection of family relationship against Parental Alienation Syndrome. Perspectives of Business Law Journal, 5 (1): 94 - 100.

Kruk, E. (2018). Parental Alienation as a Form of Emotional child Abuse: The Current state of Knowledge and Direc- tions for Future Research, Family Science Review, 22 (4): 141 - 164

Harman, J. J., Kruk, E. & Hines, D. A. (2018) Parental Alienating Behaviors: An Unacknowledged Form of Family Vio- lence, Psychological Bulletin, Vol. 144, No. 12., 1275 - 1299, http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/bul0000175

Poustie, C., Matthewson, M. & Balmer, S. (2018). The Forgotten Parent : The Targeted Parent Perspective of Parental Alienation, Journal of Family Issues, 1 - 26, https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X18777867

Woodall, N. & Woodall, K. (2019). Working with post-separation pathological splitting in children. London: Family Separation Clinic. www.familyseparationclinic.com

Krill-Reiter, L. E. (2019). Parental Alienation as a Predictor of Adult Marital and Romantic Relationship Quality, Wal- den Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection.

Harman, J. J., Bernet, W. & Harman J. (2019) Parental Alienation: The Blossoming of a Field of Study, aps (Association for psychological science), Current Directions in psychological science, 1 - 6, sagepub.com/journals-permissions, https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721419827271

Lorandos, D. and Bernet, W. (Eds.) (2020). Parental Alienation - Science & Law, Springfield, IL., C. C. Thomas Publ. In this book the authors address - among others - the seriously distorted and biased misinformation on Parental Al- ienation theory and practice in considerable detail. They provide a precise rebuttal of the abundant and outright false information that has been published regarding Parental Alienation. Harman, J. J. & Lorandos, D. (2020). Allegations of Family violence in Court: How Parental Alienation Affects Judicial Outcomes. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/law0000301.
The authors tested a set of findings reported by Meier et al. (2019):
They say: “These findings, along with several others, raise concerns that the methodological, analytical, and statisti- cal problems we detail about Meier’s report that make her conclusions untrustworthy. Discussion focuses on the importance of using open science practices for transparent and rigorous empirical testing of hypotheses and the dangers of misusing scientific findings to mislead influential professionals who affect the well-being of millions of families.” (See the complete article for details.)

Gebhardt, G.: Sarah Cecilie, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qgj3WXYHyo. You can view all versions of this film made by Action Against Abduction (website at https://www.youtube.com/user/PACTonline.)

Another important film about Parental Alienation (Syndrome) from Alexander Dierbach (in German language) with the title “Weil Du mir gehörst” [“Because you are mine”] was shown at the film festival in Munich (27th june - 6th july 2019; https://www.filmfest-muenchen.de/de/programm/filme/film/?id=6089) and at the film festival in Ludwigsha- fen on September 5, 6 and 7th 2019. It shows the whole tragedy of Parental Alienation in thousands of similar family cases in Germany and millions worldwide (Harman et al. 2018). The film can be seen with English subtitles at https://www.bitchute.com/video/R1IO4B9BrCUM

The term “parental alienation” does not yet feature as such in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). But the internationally used “International Classification of Diseases” (ICD-11) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) referred to “parental alienation” since 18 June 2018. (Code QE 52.0, under caregiver-child relation problem as index factor. This was confirmed by the seventy-second World Health Assembly on 25th may 2019
(https://icd.who.int/dev11/l-m/en#/http ://id.who.int/icd/entity/547677013). This was absolutely necessary in order to stop the meanwhile endemic and worldwide problem of Parental Alienation as a form of “psychological child abuse (ICD-11, Code T82.2 and DSM-5, Code V995.51). (Kruk, 2018; Harman et al.,2018).

The long discussion about PA seemed to be ended with that decision. But then, in Sept. 2019, a dubious and biased document was posted on the ICD-11 (orange version) website by a group of “critics of the PA-concept” from the fields “Child abuse”, “Domestic violence” and with a feminist focus called “Collective Memo of Concern to World Health Organization”, which criticized that very decision. Thus, the Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee (MSAC) secretariat removed “Parental Alienation” and “Parental Estrangement” on 25th Febr. 2020 without giving a convincing and detailed explanation of the investigation or research that supported such a belated decision. Trans- parency is here at issue. That means: The debate goes on. Parental Alienation is a custody issue but also a child protection issue. The supervisory bodies of the child welfare office and the family court should in these cases be required to act accordingly (Harman et al., 2018).

A Study published in 2014 by the American Psychological Association (Joseph Spinazzola et al., 2014) “Unseen wounds: The Contribution of Psychological Maltreatment to Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Risk Out- comes” shows that children who are emotionally abused face similar and sometimes worse mental health problems as children who are physically or sexually abused, yet psychological abuse is rarely addressed in prevention or treat- ing problems for victims. (https://www.apa.org/education/ce/1360375 )

From Sept. 12 - 14, 2019 the Third International conference of the Parental Alienation Study Group, took place in Philadelphia, PN., USA (see: www.pasg2019.com; www.pasg.info). During this conference it was possible to hear from the leaders in the field how to understand, prevent and manage Parental Alienation.

Dr. Miller, a Harvard trained specialist in the field of Parental Alienation, explains in a 5-minutes-video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fgRJh26Jho, the heavy mistakes professionals dealing with severe Parental Alienation cases can make.

The website https://ckm.vumc.org/pasg/ today lists around 1,300 publications of scientific relevance from about 55 countries worldwide on the subjects parental alienation, parental alienation syndrome and related subjects.

International developments

Information from the author about Parental Alienation 2021.
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Information june 2020

The new book by D. Lorandos, PhD, JD. & W. Bernet, M. D. “Parental Alienation – Science and Law” was recently published with C. C. Thomas, Publ., Springfield, IL./USA. Here you find a short introduction and a table of content to this excellent book.
Part I , Part II

Beside that I want to inform you about the international congress of the “European Association of Parental Alienation Practitioners”, which will occur on 16th to 18th september 2020 in Zagreb, Croatia, as a life-webinar (because of the Corona crises): https://www.eapap.eu/events/zagreb-2020/ (Parental Separation, Alienation and Splitting: Healing beyond reunification)

in order to find in the future further informations on the subject „Parental Alienation“ please see the Website der Parental Alienation Study Group, Center for Knowledge Management, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA: https://pasg.info

Actual information from the author about Parental Alienation at the end of 2019.
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In summer 2018 my article Parental Alienation (Syndrome) – A serious form of psychological child abuse has been published in the British Professional Journal Mental Health and Family Medicine Ltd [Ment Health Fam Med (2018) 13: 725 – 739]. See DOI 10.1007/s40211-018-0267-0

And also a book-review:
Boch-Galhau, W. von, Förster, Chr. & Guerra-Gonzales, J. (2018) “Demosthenes Lorandos, William Bernet, and SR Sauber (2013) Parental Alienation: Handbook for Mental Health and Legal Professionals”, in EC Paediatrics 7.8 (2018): 820 – 822 (Double blinded peer-reviewed).

Actual information from the author about Parental Alienation 2016/17.
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Actual information from the author about Parental Alienation at the end of 2015.
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Greetings from the author to Parental Alienation at the end of 2014.
download Bibliography to the article

click here to recieve an actual list of references for the article Parental Alienation (Syndrome) – a serious form of psychological child abuse

Update on Parent-Child-Alienation and the Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS)

In recent years psychiatrists and psychotherapists are confronted in their clinical work more and more often with severe psychiatric and psychosomatic consequences of the Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) in now adult “children of divorce” as well as in parents, who have been traumatized by alienation and rupture of contact with their children. In PAS we deal with a special subcategory of parent-child alienation mainly in separation/divorce conflicts in the sense of an induced disorder in the child, as a result of severe manipulative and aberrant parental behavior in which the child irrationally and without true reason radically refuses contact with a once loved, caring parent.

Research in recent times refers to the condition resulting from induced alienation between parent and child as "pathological alienation", "parental alienation", "parental alienation disorder", "alienated child" or "parental alienation syndrome". The term "parental alienation syndrome" was introduced in 1985 by the american child psychiatrist Richard A. Gardner, who died in 2003. Standard works on PAS include his book "The Parental Alienation Syndrome – a guide for mental health and legal professionals", first edition published in 1992, second edition 1998, and Gardner/Sauber/Lorandos (eds., 2006) "The International Handbook of Parental Alienation Syndrome".

Dr. Gardner, M. D. defined PAS as follows:
"The Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) is a disorder that arises primarily in the context of child-custody disputes. Its primary manifestation is the child's campaign of denigration against a parent, a campaign that has no justification. It results from the combination of a programming (brainwashing) parent's indoctrinations and the child's own contributions to the vilification of the target parent. When true parental abuse and/or neglect is present the child's animosity may be justified, and so the parental alienation syndrome explanation for the child's hostility is not applicable."

The concept “Parental Alienation Syndrome” thus is characterized by three elements:

In PAS – especially in its moderate and severe manifestation – one can identify a complex of eight chief symptoms in the behavior of the child (in a mild case of PAS not all of them may show up). These symptoms can vary in markedness and strength, which is significant for the decision on the kind of required legal and psychological intervention:

1.         A campaign of denigration
2.         Weak, absurd, or frivolous rationalizations for the deprecation
3.         Lack of ambivalence
4.         The "independent-thinker" phenomenon
5.         Reflexive support of the alienating parent in the parental conflict
6.         Absence of guilt over cruelty to and/or exploitation of the alienated parent
7.         The presence of borrowed scenarios
8.         Spread of the animosity to the friends and/or extended family of the alienated parent.

The diagnosis and the degree of PAS are established on the basis of the observed behavior of the child, not on the basis of the degree of manipulation to which the child is exposed. A careful evaluation of the entire family system and identification of the manipulating person(s) is indispensable. Also, the role of the so called alienated parent and his/her possible contribution to the process of alienation need to be evaluated, in order to avoid a misdiagnosis.

PAS is not the same as hindrance of visitation, or any kind of refusal of contact and alienation with respect to the non-residential parent -- as many believe --, but a psychiatrically relevant disorder in the child, as a result of traumatization. In contrast to other, e.g. psycho-dynamic interpretations of contact refusal by children, one has in PAS always a massive hindrance of contacts and/or manipulation and indoctrination of the child by others. Active manipulation is carried out -- consciously or not – by the chiefly caretaking parent and/or other important persons to whom the child relates or is dependent upon. In these manipulative persons one can usually identify specific psychological problems, e.g. severe narcissistic and /or borderline personality disorder, traumatic childhood experiences, paranoid coping with the divorce conflict, or psychosis. Also, attitude and behavior of professionals accompanying the divorce process play an important role in the course of the alienation process.

Significant alienation techniques in the induction of PAS are, among others, denigration, reality distorting negative presentation of the other parent, boycott of visitation, rupture of contacts, planned misinformation, suggestive influence, and confusing double-bind messages. Sometimes direct psychological (e.g. threats of withdrawal of love, suicide threats) or physical threats ( hitting, locking in) are used against the children. The loyalty conflict in the child, which exists anyway in a divorce situation, is enhanced. Fear, dependence on and identification with the alienator play an important role. A related psychodynamics is found in the Stockholm Syndrome, in cases of hostage taking, or also within sect systems. Some cases of PAS of the severe degree show similarities in their dynamics with the Munchausen-by-Proxy-Syndrome. The affected children depend upon outside help.

In order to be able to better support children of divorce, affected by PAS, by appropriate prevention and intervention measures numerous international experts recommend that the diagnosis “Parental Alienation Syndrome” (or “Parental Alienation Disorder”) in the sense of an induced child disorder be included in the forthcoming DSM-5 of the American Psychiatric Association. Appropriate intervention in the case of PAS by divorce accompanying professionals – especially in the context of the family court system -- often is precluded by the fact that PAS is not diagnosed, its psychotraumatic importance or its existence even denied, with reference to the fact that the disorder is not included in DSM (-IV). The alienated children often are left for years in a pathological environment, with corresponding risks for their psychological development and mental health.

Further information about Parent-Child-Alienation and Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS)

A survey of the current international scientific literature on parent-child-alienation and PAS can be found at: http://home.att.net/~rawars/pasarticles.html and www.beideeltern.de/paslit.php

There now exists an international body of specialist literature with in excess of 600 scientifically relevant publications from more than 30 countries and 6 continents on the subject of Parental Alienation and Parental Alienation Syndrome (see Bernet, W. et al.: "Parental Alienation, DSM-5 and ICD 11" in American Journal of Family Therapy, 38 (2): 76 – 187, 2010. See here in particular "References", pp. 143 – 182. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01926180903586583.
In July 2006 publication of: Gardner/Sauber/Lorandos, “International Handbook of Parental Alienation Syndrome: Conceptual, Clinical and Legal Considerations”, Charles C. Thomas Publisher Ltd., Springfield, Illinois. This is a comprehensive textbook of remarkable quality for interested professionals of the various divorce related disciplines. In this handbook 32 experts from 8 countries present the current scientific knowledge about the Parental Alienation Syndrome, as well as on the theoretical and practical questions connected with it.
Contents and details about the handbook can be found at http://www.ccthomas.com/details.cfm?P_ISBN13=9780398076474 (book orders directly from the publisher, Amazon.com (USA), or other book sellers).

The professional database of the American Psychological Association (APA) cites two reviews of the “International Handbook of Parental Alienation Syndrome”:
Robert M. Pressmann, American Journal of Family Therapy. Vol. 35 (3) May-Jun 2007, 284 – 285. " The International Handbook of Parental Alienation Syndrome (IHPAS) is a powerful volume that provides therapists and justices a wealth of knowledge and wisdom that may positively impact the lives of children who have become fodder in marital and custodial conflicts. The International Handbook of Parental Alienation Syndrome delivers on several fronts. Structurally, it is comprehensive, well organized and easy to navigate. It provides both an historic and cross-cultural perspective. It reads well, with many brief case presentations as illustrations. In addition, it provides solid diagnostic and treatment guidance." (APA PsycINFO Database Record 2007).
Christine Dunkley, British Journal of Guidance & Counseling. Vol 25 (3) Aug 2007, 357 – 358 "The strengths of this volume are its comprehensiveness and its clinical components. There is much to learn from the contributions about how children are manipulated in the aftermath of separation, and how to prevent and repair the damage. I would recommend it to any child welfare professional, particularly those involved in residency and contact disputes." (APA PsycINFO Database, 2007).
A very informative, new book on the Parental Alienation Syndrome by the British clinical and forensic psychologist L. F. Lowenstein was published in 2007: „How to Understand and Address Parental Alienation Resulting from Acrimonious Divorce or Separation“, Russell House Publishing, Lyme Regis Dorset, www.russellhouse.co.uk. Based upon the international research results on this topic, this book deals with the problems and the effects on children affected by PAS and on parents affected by alienation and rupture of contacts. The role of legal professionals is considered in full and therapeutic intervention in PAS cases is treated in detail. In a separate chapter, Lowenstein illuminates the Stockholm-Syndrome in connection with the well known Austrian abduction case Natascha Kampusch and shows the relation to the Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS)..
A scientifically excellent review of the concepts and the controversies relating to PAS can be found in Warshak, R. A., (2006), Social science and parental alienation: Examining the disputes and the evidence; in: Gardner, R. A., Sauber, S. R. & . Lorandos, D. (eds.), International Handbook of Parental Alienation Syndrome. C.C. Thomas Publisher, Springfield, IL., p. 352 – 371(German translation in Warshak, R. A. (2005), Eltern-Kind-Entfremdung und Sozialwissenschaften – Sachlichkeit statt Polemik, Zentralblatt für Jugendrecht (ZfJ) 92 (5), S. 186 – 200.)
This publication is an update of his article: “Bringing Sense to Parental Alienation: A Look at the Disputes and the Evidence” in Family Law Quarterly 2003, 37 (2): 273-301. In this article professor Warshak presents the current status of research on PAS. He discusses in detail the familiar points of criticism and also in his presentation of the PAS concept makes numerous suggestions for further scientific research. In addition to the formulation “Parental Alienation Syndrome” (R. A. Gardner), he also deals with the alternative formulation developed by Kelly and Johnston (2001), “The Alienated Child”. Among the controversies surrounding PAS he states in particular his position regarding the very questionable article by C. S. Bruch, “Parental Alienation Syndrome: Getting it Wrong in Child Custody Cases, Family Law Quarterly 2001, 35 (3): 527 – 552. This article, in the German translation ,,Parental Alienation Syndrome und Parental Alienation: Wie man sich in Sorgerechtsfällen irren kann“ (FamRZ 2002, 49 (19): 304 – 315) is despite the devastating criticism, also by other internationally recognized experts, still used in Germany to down play the problem of induced parent-child alienation.
In connection with the Parental Alienation Syndrome the standard commentary to the German civil code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch –BGB), Palandt, C. H. Beck-Verlag, München 2006, 65th edition, Vol. 7, § 1684, Rd-Nr. 7, p. 1970 and 2007, 66th edition, Vol. 7, § 1684, Rd.-Nr. 7, p. 1975 as well as 2008, 67th edition, Vol. 7, § 1684, Rd.-Nr. 9, p. 1952 refers to the German translation of Warshak’s paper in Zentralblatt für Jugendrecht (ZfJ) 05: 186 - 200.
a) A detailed review of the discussion on PAS from the view point of civil law can be found in von Staudingers Kommentar zum Bürgerlichen Gesetzbuch mit Einführungsgesetz und Nebengesetzen, Buch 4 Familienrecht §§ 1684 – 1717 (Elterliche Sorge 3 – Umgangsrecht), Neubearbeitung 2006 von Michael Coester, Thomas Rauscher, Ludwig Salgo, Sellier – de Gruyter-Verlag, Berlin, Randnummer 37 – 39, Seite 55 – 60. (Worth reading here also Randnummer 16 a and b with reference to decisions of the European Court on Human Rights against Germany for violation of Article 8 of the convention e. g. Elsholz, Sommerfeld, Sahin, Haase and Görgülü).

b) An important comment on PAS by D. Büte can also be found in: Gerhardt, P./von Heintschel-Heinegg, B. & Klein, M., Handbuch des Fachanwalts Familienrecht, 6th edition, 2008, 4., Rd.-Nr. 595 – 599, p. 446 – 447, Luchterhand-Verlag, Munich.
The topics “Parental Alienation Syndrome“, “Patterns of Behavior and Personality Structure of Alienating Parents“ and “Problems of child psychiatric attestations in visitation- and custody conflicts” are dealt with by W. Andritzky in: Deutsches Ärzteblatt, 100 (2) 2003, p. 81 – 82, in: Psychotherapie in Psychiatrie, Psychotherapeutischer Medizin und klinischer Psychologie 7 (2) 2002, p. 166 – 182 and in: Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie, 52 (10) 2003, p. 794 – 811. See also in english language The International Handbook of Parental Alienation Syndrome. Conceptual, Clinical and Legal Considerations (eds. R. A. Gardner, S. R. Sauber, D. Lorandos), C. C. Thomas Publ., Springfield, Ill., 2006, p. 195 – 208.
The psychological consequences of PAS-induction for manipulated, alienated children of divorce and for mothers and fathers affected by alienation and rupture of contacts are considered by v. Boch-Galhau, W. & Kodjoe, U. (2006): “Psychologicial consequences of PAS indoctrination for adult children of divorce and the effects of alienation on parents”, in: Gardner, R. A., Sauber, S. R. & Lorandos, D. (eds.) International Handbook of Parental Alienation Syndrome: Conceptual, Clinical and Legal Considerations, C. C. Thomas, Springfield, Il., p. 310 – 322.
The handbook Kindesmisshandlung und Vernachlässigung (Child Abuse and Neglect) by Deegener, G. and Körner, W., (Eds.) Hogrefe, Göttingen, 2005, refers on pages 684 f. and 694 to the "Parental Alienation Syndrome"as a particular kind of psychological violence against children in the context of custody and visitation conflicts, which we consider worth mentioning here.
We would like to draw attention to: Katona, E. (2007). Parental Alienation Syndrome - Der Verlust des eigenen Kindes durch Trennung und Scheidung. Eine Studie über den Verlauf des Kontaktabbruchs zum eigenen Kind und der daraus resultierenden Auswirkungen. Unpublished diploma thesis at the Psychologische Institut der Universität Freiburg i. Br. (http://www.freidok.uni-freiburg.de/volltexte/6203)
The psychologist Esther Katona analyzed in her extensive work (2007) the experiences of fathers and mothers separated from their children. 80 % of the participants in this study had not seen their children for at least one year, 20% even not for more than 7 years. The psychologist was surprised by the extent of their health, psychological and social impairments. The quality of life was graded by 64% of the participants as mediocre or poor. Unsatisfied with their psychological condition were 53 %. The physical condition was seen by 45 % as „severely impaired“. More than 2/3 suffered from chronic fatigue, insomnia, as well as neck -and back pain. 67 % showed clinically relevant symptoms of depression. In addition to the effects on health the rupture of contacts to the children also had significant effects on their social life. Many of the fathers and mothers separated from their children reacted with social withdrawal, lack of motivation, and other symptoms of depression. Some experienced the rupture of contacts as ,,worse than the death of a child“
We would also like to mention the studies by Baker (2005 and 2007) about long-term effects of parent-child alienation and of Baker & Darnall (2006) about alienation strategies:

a) Baker, A. J. L. (2005). The Long-Term Effects of Parental Alienation on Adult Children: A Qualitative Research Study. American Journal of Family Therapy, 33: 289 – 302. In this study 38 adults participated who as children were affected by parental alienation. Seven key effects were found: Low self esteem - depression – drug/alcohol abuse – lack of trust – alienation from their own children -divorce - others.

b) Baker, A. J. L. & Darnall, D. (2006). Behaviors and Strategies Employed in Parental Alienation: A Survey of Parental Experiences, Journal of Divorce & Remarriage. 45 (1/2): 97 – 123.

c) Baker, A. J. L. (2007). Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome – Breaking the Ties that Bind. W. W. Norton & Company, New York, London. This book is based upon on detailed questioning of 40 now adult children affected by PAS. Their experience is analyzed in the context of clinical and child developmental theories (A review, in German, of this work can be found at http://www.vaeterfuerkinder.de/Baker.htm)

In addition to these:
Baker, Amy J. L. (2005). The cult of parenthood: A qualitative study of parental alienation. Cultic Studies Review 4(1):np. (Comparison of indoctrination in sect systems and in cases of PAS)
Baker, A. J.L. (2010). Parental alienation: A special case of parental rejection. Parental Acceptance, 4(3), 4-5.
Baker, A. J. L. (in press). Resisting the pressure to choose between parents: A school-based program. Cultic Studies Journal.
Baker, A. J. L. & BenAmi, N. (in press). To turn a child against a parent is to turn a child against himself. To appear in Journal of Divorce and Remarriage    .
Baker, A. J. L. & Chambers, J. (2011). Adult recall of childhood exposure to parental conflict: Unpacking the black box of parental alienation. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 52(1), 55-76.
BenAmi, N. & Baker, A.J.L. (in press). The long-term correlates of childhood exposure to parental alienation on adult self-sufficiency and well-being. American Journal of Family Therapy.
a) The Belgian journals Divorce et Séparation no 3, 2005, La Revue d’Action Juridique et Sociale, no 222, 2002 : p. 31 – 35 and no 237, 2004 : p. 11 – 17, and Acta Psychiatrica Belgica, no 108/4, 2008: pp. 25 – 36, as well as the French journals Actualité Juridique famille, no 11,2004 : p. 397 – 399, Synapse, Journal de Psychiatrie et Système Nerveux Central, no 188, 2002, p. 23 – 34 and no 227, 2006: p. 11 – 18 and Revue Internationale de Psychosociologie Vol. XIII, no 30, 2007, p. 89 - 111 deal extensively with the topics of „Aliénation Parentale“ and „Syndrome d’Aliénation Parentale“ (SAP).

b)La Gazette du Palais (note de J. Pannier, Avocat à la Cour de Paris) 18 – 20 nov. 127 (322 – 324) 2007, p. 11 – 15 reports a significant decision of the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Toulon (JAF) RG no 04/00694 of June 4th, 2007, in which the Syndrome d’Aliénation Parentale is discussed in detail. Compare also La Revue d’Action Juridique et Sociale, no 270, 2007, p. 58 – 62.

c) In France, a medical dissertation (thèse de doctorat de médecine) has been presented on 22 oct. 2008 by B. Goudard, at the Faculty of Medicine, Lyon-Nord, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, with the issue Syndrome d’Aliénation Parentale, (this work can be downloaded from: http://www.acalpa.org/pdf/sapthese.pdf .

d) Conferences on l'aliénation parentale were held on May 20-21, 2011 in Clermont-Ferrand, on June 17, 2011 in Grasse and on June 24, 2011 in Grenoble. (For further information see www.acalpa.org)
In the october-issue of the American Journal of Family Therapy 36 (5) 2008: 349 – 366 an important article by the American clinical and forensic psychiatrist W. Bernet, M. D. “Parental Alienation Disorder and DSM-5” has been published.
(See: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713722633~db=all)
This text is similar to a proposal submitted by Prof. Bernet and a group of clinical and forensic psychiatrists and psychologists to the Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence Work Group of the American Psychiatric Association for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
An article by Deirdre C. Rand titled "Parental Alienation Critics and the Politics of Science" was published in the American Journal of Family Therapy, 39: 48 – 71, 2011. This article looks into claims mainly put forward by two groups of critics of parental alienation syndrome and parental alienation. The issues discussed include the following: the role of the alienated parent, structural interventions such as custody changes, the relationship between PAS and accusations of sexual abuse, and the controversy over the use of the word "syndrome".
a) In Spain, the Co-ordination Council of Forensic Psychologists attached to the General Council of the Official College of Spanish Psychologists (Coordinadora de Psicologia Juridica del Consejo General de Colegios Oficiales de Psicólogos de España) published a declaration on 18 of june 2008, in which the advisability of PAS analysis in psychological expertises for family court proceedings and thus concomitant fields finds wide support. Accordingly, researchers and psychologists largely agree in considering PAS a cognitive, emotional and behavioral disorder of a child that requires corresponding scientific and professional attention. It goes without saying that in the diagnosis any form of abuse and neglect in the child`s care must be completely precluded. (The Spanish text “Consideraciones en torno a la Pertinencia del Síndrome de Alienación parental en la evaluación psicológica” is to be found on http://www.infocop.es/view_article.asp?id=1942&cat=9.) Further Spanish literature and information about PAS in Spain is also available at the Web pages: www.jmaguilar.com, www.asunte.blogspot.com; http://amnistia-infantil.org/sap.htm; www.separaciones-divorcios.com; Some Spanish PAS-titles can also be found at www.beideeltern.de/paslit.php.

b) On 14 of june 2007 an important judgement concerning PAS/SAP was taken in Manresa/Spain See: Sentencia pionera sobre el síndrome de alienación parental, Sentencia del Juzgado de Primera Instancia número 4 de Manresa, de 14 de junio de 2007, (No. 567/06). (http://www.separaciones-divorcios.com/noticias/index.php?id=31). Custody was withdrawn from a mother and transferred to the father, for having, out of hatred, programmed her 8 year old daughter against the father. For the subsequent 6 months she and the maternal family at large were prohibited from contacting the daughter. Until transfer of residence to the father the child was to live temporarily with the paternal grandparents.

c) We would like to draw attention to an international conference on the subject of "Sindrome de Alienacion Parental y Custodia Compartida", which was held from June 10 to 13, 2009 in Leon (Spain). A second international conference on the same subject took place from May 27 to 29, 2010 in Madrid, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, and a third from March 24 to 26, 2011 in Zaragoza. (See www.congresointernacionalsap.org/index.html).
We would like to draw attention to the book by E. Schmidt & A. Mees, “Vergiss, dass es Dein Vater ist! Ehemals entfremdete Kinder im Gespräch”, Books on Demand GmbH, Mainz 2006. In this book four children of separation at the current ages of 15, 20, 28 and 34 tell in interviews, how they experienced the separation of their parents and the loss of their father. They describe their experiences with youth welfare authorities and the courts and also report on the re-encounter with their father. These reports once again confirm: Children need both parents, regardless of whether the parents remain together or not.
Professionals, as well as affected parents, frequently report to us that the self-help book (in german language) by Gabriele ten Hövel, “Liebe Mama, böser Papa – Eltern-Kind-Entfremdung nach Trennung und Scheidung –Das PAS-Syndrom” (Kösel, Munich, 2003) is found to be very helpful.
A concise description of the Parental Alienation Syndrome by the American psychologist and attorney, D. Lorandos, PhD., JD., (www.psychlaw.net) co-editor of the International Handbook of Parental Alienation Syndrome can be seen online at:
http://www.falsely-accused.net/clientvideos/clientWMV/Parental%20Alienation%20cases.wmv (7:22 min.)
An excellent report on parental alienation and parental alienation syndrome was broadcast on Canadian television. An online version is available. "W5 investigates: Children on the frontlines of divorce" W5: Poisoned Minds, part one and W5: Poisoned Minds, part two.
Among the persons appearing in this film is Pamela Richardson who describes her extremely tragic case in which her child, having been alienated by the father, eventually jumped from a bridge and died at the age of 16. (She has also written a book about it: Pamela Richardson (2006), "A kidnapped mind: A mother's heartbreaking memoir of parental alienation. Toronto: Dundurm.) http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091106/w5_divorce_091107/20091107?hub=Canada
The documentary on the topic of child abduction and alienation, “Victims of Another War –The Aftermath of Parental Alienation”, with interviews of three adult victims is suitable as an educational film for divorce related professions. A description of this film can be found in Summers, C. C. & Summers, D.M. (2006): “Parentectomy in the crossfire”, American Journal of Family Therapy, 34 (3): 243 -261, DVD, 30 min. Orders: www.victimsofanotherwar.com .
For the further training of family judges on the topic of PAS with its three degrees of severity the Superior Court of Maricopa County, Phoenix, AZ (M. K. Jeanes) created in 2003 the documentary “Children of Divorce –A View from the Bench” (DVD, 42 min.). A description of this film can also be found in the above article by Summers & Summers (2006).
a) The film “Family Ties and Knots: Children of Divorce“ is suitable for facilitating the contact between non-custodial parents and their children. The film can be used for making parents aware of the harmful effects of alienating behavior. Orders: http://www.familysupportcenter.com/tiesandknots/videos.html (16 min., DVD, also online as video stream and for download).

b) The film “Family Ties and Knots: Parents on the See-saw“ can be helpful for parents who try to engage in constructive discussions, in order to promote a positive contact of the child with both parents and for conveying a feeling of continuity and stability between the two parental households. A psychologist informs on visiting models and schedules which are suitable for the various age groups. Orders: http://www.familysupportcenter.com/tiesandknots/videos.html (25 min., DVD, also online as preview and for download).
On July 20th 2006 the European Court on Human Rights at Strasbourg came to a sensational decision in the family conflict case of Koudelka vs. Czech Republic (App.-No. 1633/05), regarding a violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In paragraphs 35, 39 and 62 the term “Syndrome d'Aliénation Parentale" is used explicitly, which amounts to a legal recognition of the PAS phenomenon by this high supranational court.
The decision (in French) can be found at the web site of the ECHR ( http://www.echr.coe.int/ECHR/EN/Header/Case-Law/HUDOC/HUDOC+database/ List of recent judgements – Search – select French as language – enter application number). A press release in English can be found at this web-site by entering the name or case number into the search field. A detailed commentary, with a partial translation from the French into German, which we recommend, can be found at www.vaeterfuerkinder.de/Koudelka_Teil.htm.
On January 18, 2007, the European Court on Human Rights at Strasbourg issued in the family law case Zavřel vs. Czech Republic (no. 14044/05) a further decision regarding violation of article 8 of the European Human Rights Convention. Also this decision, in §§ 16, 24, 28, 45 and 52, refers in detail to the "Syndrome d'Aliénation Parentale", as diagnosed by psychological experts, with detailed substantiation especially in §§ 48, 50, 52 and 53. The decision can be found in French on the web site of the ECHR, http://www.echr.coe.int/ECHR/EN/Header/Case-Law/HUDOC/HUDOC+database/. A press release in English can be found at this web-site by entering the name or case number into the search field.
On August 26, 2010, Brazil's then President Lula signed a "Parental Alienation" law (LAW 12318). This law penalizes alienating behavior by divorced or separated parents. A German translation can be found at: http://www.vaeterfuerkinder.de; the original text of the law in Brazilian Portuguese is published at: http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_Ato2007-2010/2010/Lei/L12318.htm).
A form of interdisciplinary cooperation, practiced successfully since 1993 in the court district of Cochem, Rheinland-Pfalz, and known meanwhile in Germany as “Cochem Practice” (see www.ak-cochem.de ) appears to us as an effective means for preventing the development of PAS and of the social, medical-psychological and economic consequences connected with it. The Cochem methodology, in the sense of "Konfliktlösung durch multiprofessionelle Vernetzung" and of a "Verordnete Kooperation im Familienkonflikt als Prozess der Einstellungsänderung" is described in more detail by T. Füchsle-Voigt, from a psychological point of view (in Familie, Partnerschaft und Recht [FPR] 10 (11) 2004: 600 – 602, and in Divorce et Séparation, 5, 2006: 101 – 109), as well as by family judge J. Rudolph from a juridical point of view (in: “Du bist mein Kind – Die Cochemer Praxis, Wege zu einem menschlicheren Familienrecht”, Berlin, 2007). The Cochem methodology was developed from practical working experience and has its theoretical foundations in the classical social-psychological attitude research and in the well known dissonance theory (L. Festinger). This methodology aims at the reduction of conflicts and the restitution of parental autonomy and responsibility on the basis of the protection of the rights of children, as well as of the parents.

In 2008, the internationally distinguished Canadian authors Fidler, B. (psychologist), Bala, N. (legal scholar), Birnbaum, R. (social scientist) & Kavassalis, K. (legal scholar) published a book aimed at professionals involved in divorce cases, with the title "Challenging Issues in Child Custody Disputes – A Guide for Legal and Mental Health Professionals", Thomson, Carswell, Toronto, Canada. This publication provides a detailed scientific review of the subjects Parental Alienation and Parental Alienation Syndrome. The controversies surrounding these subjects are presented in objective and clearly understandable terms, with reference to key international literature in the field, and recent interdisciplinary intervention models for cases of severe parental alienation are discussed (on this subject see also item 26 below).
This work also includes a scholarly treatment of important issues, such as residential moves and relocation, domestic violence and sexual abuse allegations in connection with custody disputes, devoting two comprehensive chapters to each of these topics. We thoroughly recommend this book.

An international working group of more than 70 psychiatrists, child psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, legal professionals, practitioners and scholars from 12 countries has developed a proposal for the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) calling for the inclusion of "Parental Alienation Disorder" in the diagnostic systems DSM-5 and ICD-11. This was submitted to the respective scientific committees for consideration in late 2009 (see: Bernet, W. et al.: "Parental Alienation, DSM-5 and ICD 11" in American Journal of Family Therapy, 38 (2): pp. 76 - 187, 2010, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01926180903586583). An extended version of this text is due to be published as a book in summer/fall 2010: Bernet, W. (2010 in press). Parental Alienation, DSM-5, and ICD-11. Charles C. Thomas Publisher Ltd., Springfield, Illinois, http://www.ccthomas.com).

In January 2010, the highly respected journal Family Court Review (see Family Court Review, Vol. 48, no. 1 (Jan. 2010), see http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118499535/home) published over 200 pages of works by distinguished scholars and professionals from the US and Canada on the subject of “Alienated Children in Divorce and Separation”, which examine various aspects of the scientific discussion on this subject and present well-established intervention models for cases of severe parental alienation (e.g. by R. A. Warshak,; R. A. Warshak & M. R. Otis and by J. Sullivan, P. A. Ward & R. M. Deutsch). These psychological programs, which may also be of interest in other countries, attempt to rebuild the lost relationship to a parent and the lost identity of severely alienated children of divorce, and show that – contrary to popular opinion – it is indeed possible to mitigate parental alienation in high-conflict cases.

After roughly a dozen international conferences on Parental Alienation and Parental Alienation Syndrome in Europe, South and North America and Canada between 2002 and 2010 (to name a few examples: www.pas-konferenz.de,www.cspas.ca, www.congresointernacionalsap.org), the renowned Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) in the US is devoting its 47th Annual Conference (June 2 to 5, 2010 in Denver, Colorado) entirely to the subject of Parental Alienation with over 80 presentations and workshops. All key aspects and controversies surrounding this subject will be covered at the conference and various intervention models will be presented (see www.afccnet.org).

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