A comparison of paradoxical and nonparadoxical interpretations and directives

Explored the effects of consistent and inconsistent combinations of paradoxical and nonparadoxical interpretations and directives in brief counseling with 49 moderately depressed undergraduates. It was hypothesized that a consistent paradoxical intervention would be more effective than inconsistent interventions, which in turn would be more effective than a consistent nonparadoxical intervention. Ss who wanted to change were randomly assigned to 4 interview intervention conditions and a no-treatment control condition. In the intervention conditions, Ss received 2 interviews with counselors who gave 6 interpretations and 2 directives over the course of the interviews. Ss in the intervention conditions decreased their depression more than did Ss in the control condition. Paradoxical interpretations were associated with more symptom remission than were nonparadoxical interpretations, whereas the nature of the directives students received made little difference. Whether the interventions were consistent or inconsistent made little difference on changes in depression, but Ss had more favorable impressions of their counselors when interpretations and directives were consistent. The impact of the interventions on Ss' attributions of the cause of therapeutic change was also explored. (12 ref)