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Article
Employing paradoxical intention in the treatment of agoraphobia
Behaviour research and therapy
  • L. Michael Ascher, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-1981
Disciplines
Abstract

The present study assessed the efficacy of paradoxical intention in ameliorating the travel restriction of agoraphobics. A combined score indicating proximity to two difficult target locations represented the dependent variable. A multiple baseline across subjects was used with each of two groups of five clients. This was accomplished by sequentially staggering introduction of treatment. At the conclusion of baseline phase. Group A received 6 weeks of gradual exposure followed by paradoxical intention to criterion. Group B received paradoxical intention to criterion immediately after baseline. Results indicated that paradoxical intention produced greater movement toward targets for clients in Group B when compared both with their baseline and with the performance of Group A following an equal period of gradual exposure.

Comments

This article was published in Behaviour research and therapy, Volume 19, Issue 6, Pages 533-542.

The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(81)90080-2.

Citation Information
L. Michael Ascher. "Employing paradoxical intention in the treatment of agoraphobia" Behaviour research and therapy Vol. 19 Iss. 6 (1981) p. 533 - 542
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/l_ascher/6/