Interpersonal therapy

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a type of treatment for patients with depression. This type of therapy uses a short-term treatment approach and it's typically given over a period of 12 to 16 weeks. The main goal of IPT is to improve the quality of a patient’s interpersonal relationships and social functioning to help reduce their depression.

Overview

Interpersonal therapy focuses on the interpersonal relationships of the depressed person. The idea of interpersonal therapy is that depression can be treated by improving the communication patterns and how people relate to others.

History

Interpersonal therapy was initially developed in the 1970s by Gerald Klerman and Myrna Weissman for the treatment of depression. It was based on the observation that personal relationships and life events can significantly influence the course of depression.

Principles

Interpersonal therapy is based on the following principles:

• Depression is a medical condition, not a consequence of personal weakness or a character flaw.
• Depression is influenced by factors in the current environment, particularly in the interpersonal world of the depressed person.
• The focus of treatment is on improving the quality of the patient’s interpersonal relationships and social functioning to help reduce their depression.

Techniques

Interpersonal therapy uses various techniques such as:

• Clarification: Helping the patient identify and understand their emotions.
• Communication analysis: Improving the patient's communication skills.
• Role playing: Helping the patient understand their own role in relationships.

Effectiveness

Numerous studies have shown that interpersonal therapy is effective for the treatment of depression. It is one of the few therapies that has been shown to be effective in randomized controlled trials.

See also

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Psychotherapy
• Depression

Interpersonal therapy Resources
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