Paradoxical intention in the treatment of urinary retention

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1979

Abstract

Although most cases of psychogenic urinary retention can be ameliorated by a program composed of various behavioral techniques, there is a small percentage of cases which resists the behavioral treatment of choice. The present multiple case paper focused on the treatment of several resistant cases of functional urinary retention. Following a two week baseline period, each individual was exposed to eight weekly behavioral sessions. Whereas most cases of urinary retention have significantly improved by this time, the five individuals chosen for the present study were dissatisfied with their progress. Thus, following the eighth week, paradoxical intention was employed. Within six weeks treatment for the urinary problem was terminated as all clients were comfortable with this aspect of their daily behavior. It was hypothesized that cases of psychogenic urinary retention which resist behavioral techniques are possibly exacerbated by performance anxiety. Such anxiety can be efficiently handled by paradoxical intention. © 1979.

Publication Title

Behaviour research and therapy

Volume

17

Issue

3

First Page

267

Last Page

268

Comments

This article was published in Behaviour research and therapy, Volume 17, Issue 3, Pages 267-268.

The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(79)90042-1.

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