Psychiatric and mental health nurses' beliefs about therapeutic paradox

Therapeutic paradox is a subject that elicits divergent opinions among psychiatric and mental health nurses. In a study of a random, systematic sample of psychiatric nurses (N = 165), more than one-half of the respondents used paradox and a larger majority of respondents considered paradox to be an appropriate psychotherapeutic intervention, although there were expressions of professional and ethical reservation. In addition to holding more negative beliefs about manipulation, threats to the therapeutic relationship, and deception, the non-users of paradox were significantly less willing to refer friends for paradoxical treatment.