DEFIANCE-BASED SYMPTOM PRESCRIPTION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTANCE - A CRITICAL-EVALUATION

Symptom prescription is a commonly used clinical intervention that has been demonstrated to be effective for a wide range of client problems . The defiance-based form of symptom prescription has been frequently touted as an intervention of choice for clients who are characterized as resistant or reactant. This article critically examines case studie s and controlled comparison studies that purport to address this hypot hesized link between reactance and defiance-based symptom prescription . From this review, there is currently little evidence to support the use of defiance-based symptom prescription. Suggestions are made for g reater clinical reliance on compliance-based symptom prescription and for collaborating with clients to overcome their resistance to treatme nt.