Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is a short-term psychological (talking) therapy. Its foundations lie in attachment theory (Bowlby, 1969), communication theory (e.g., Kiesler, 1996), and social theory (e.g., Henderson, Byrne, Duncan-Jones, 1982). IPT therapists pay particular attention to their clients’ relationships with other people. IPT Where IPT fits on the Continuum Analytic CBT Interpersonal Social/Community Some differences make a difference. One therapy is not right for all patients IPT is designed for outpatient, non-psychotic, unipolar depressed adolescents, adults and elderly, regardless of the non-medical etiology of the depression.
What is IPT-A?Interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents (IPT-A) is a time-limited (12–16 sessions) individual psychotherapy for adolescents ages 12–18 who are suffering from depression. IPT-A was adapted from interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adults.
While IPT-A recognizes that genetic, biological, and personality factors play a role in the development of depression, the focus of IPT-A is on how relationship issues are related to the onset or ongoing occurrence of depressive symptoms.The goals of IPT-A are to:. help adolescents to recognize their feelings and think about how interpersonal events or conflicts might affect their mood;. improve communication and problem-solving skills;. enhance social functioning and lessen stress experienced in relationships; and. decrease depressive symptoms.Is IPT-A just for adolescents?Yes.
IPT-A was specifically developed as an outpatient treatment for teens ages 12–18 who are suffering from mild to moderate symptoms of a, including major depressive disorder, dysthymia, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and depressive disorder not otherwise specified. It is not indicated for those who are bipolar, acutely suicidal or homicidal, psychotic, intellectually disabled, or actively abusing substances. For children younger than 12, IPT-A has been adapted to include more parental involvement in a model called family-based interpersonal psychotherapy (FB-IPT), and there is preliminary evidence for its use with preadolescents ages 8–12 years.
Depending on the situation and individual, mental health professionals might also recommend cognitive behavioral therapy or medication. Regardless of age, it’s always important to discuss symptoms, needs, and concerns with a mental health professional to identify the best treatment approach for the individual and situation. What is involved in IPT-A?Therapy sessions take place once a week, for 12 weeks, with each session lasting about 45–60 minutes. In addition to meeting with the teen, therapists might also meet with parents or guardians for 1–3 sessions as needed. Each session of therapy has a very specific focus. Therapy is divided into three phases: Initial Phase (Sessions 1–4)During this first phase, the IPT-A therapist discusses depression with the teen and his/her parent(s), including discussing the teen’s own experiences or feelings of depression.
The therapist explains the focus of IPT-A on relationships and the reciprocal relationship between mood and relationships, as well as the goals of treatment. As part of the psychoeducation about depression, the therapist also gives the teen a “limited sick role,” which means that the therapist identifies depression as a medical illness, while encouraging the teen to take an active role in getting better. The therapist encourages both the teen and parent(s) to recognize that depression affects motivation, and yet the road to recovery involves working to try to keep up with daily activities, such as schoolwork and chores, while acknowledging that performance might not be up to the same standards as prior to feeling depressed.
They are helped to understand that doing these activities will get easier, and performance will improve as the teen begins to feel better. The therapist conducts what’s called an “interpersonal inventory,” in which the therapist and teen discuss the teen’s most important relationships, looking for strengths and problems in communication and problem-solving skills.
The therapist works closely with the teen to help identify the significant relationship that is either contributing to or helping to maintain the depression and then develop new skills to help resolve the identified problems that might be affecting his or her interactions within this relationship. The patient and therapist might discuss how difficult interactions (struggles) influence relationships with family members, peers, and others in his or her life. Finally, the patient and therapist establish a “treatment contract,” a clear statement of an area of focus, goals, and expectations for treatment. Middle Phase (Sessions 5–9)During the middle phase, the therapist and teen continue to delve into the identified problem area. The therapist works with the teen or adolescent on recognizing specific difficulties within the identified problem area. They talk about how certain events or things the teen and/or other people say and do can trigger negative symptoms and feelings. The therapist helps the teen with communication tips and problem-solving strategies, identifying ways to communicate and resources (including other people) that can be used to more successfully solve problems.
They practice using skills that can help the teen to better navigate challenging interpersonal circumstances. Termination Phase (Sessions 10–12)During the termination phase, or wrap-up, the teen and therapist talk about feelings the teen might have about ending treatment and the progress the teen has made. They talk about the skills that the teen learned in therapy that were most helpful and the goals that were accomplished. The therapist encourages the teen to think about future difficult or stressful events and how he or she might use the newly learned skills in these future situations. The therapist, teen, and parent also review together whether additional treatment is recommended and how the parent can continue to support the teen’s use of these newly learned skills. Does IPT-A work?Scientific research has shown IPT-A to be effective as a type of treatment for mild to moderate adolescent depression. Research studies comparing IPT-A to the individual therapy adolescents usually receive in community outpatient clinics have shown that adolescents treated with IPT-A demonstrated fewer depressive symptoms and better social and global functioning post-treatment than treatment-as-usual conditions.
For teens with moderate to severe depression, research has shown that a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and medication works best. What types of professionals provide IPT-A and where?Professionals with a master's or doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology or a master's in social work who receive training in IPT-A are qualified to provide IPT-A. IPT-A is typically conducted in:.
an outpatient clinic;. Diablo 3 sever. a private therapist’s office; or.
a school-based clinic setting. Jazmin Reyes-Portillo, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology in the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center. She works as a clinical psychologist in the Youth Anxiety Center Washington Heights Clinic providing diagnostic assessments; individual, group, and family therapy; parent-training; and school consultations.
Reyes-Portillo’s areas of interest include the treatment of youth depression and anxiety, as well as the use of technology to improve mental health services for youth.
The Guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy is the definitive, practical guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) for clinicians and researchers. IPT is a well-researched, time-limited, and diagnosis-focused therapy. An update and expansion of the original 1984, 2000, and 2007 IPT manuals, this guide illustrates not only individual IPT treatment for patients with major depression but also adaptations of IPT for different diagnoses, patient populations, and treatment formats. This book is the basis for the extensive research that has validated IPT and led to its listing in treatment guidelines.Written by the originators of the treatment and one of its leading researchers, this updated and expanded guide describes how to approach clinical encounters with patients, how to focus IPT treatment, and how to handle therapeutic difficulties. IPT can be combined with medication, and it is a safe alternative to medication for individuals who may not be able to take antidepressants. IPT has been shown not only to relieve symptoms but to build social skills as well.
Learn how to use IPT to effectively treat depression and other disorders including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, posttraumatic stress, and borderline personality disorder. With clinical examples and sample therapist scripts throughout, The Guide summarizes the theoretical and empirical background of IPT and focuses on teaching you the best way to deliver this effective, immensely practical treatment.
Weissman, PhD, is Diane Goldman Kemper Family Professor of Epidemiology and Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University and Chief of the Division of Epidemiology at New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI). She received her PhD in Epidemiology from Yale University School of Medicine where she also became a professor. Early on in her career she began working with Gerald Klerman at Yale University on the development of IPT. Together they carried out this work, testing IPT in several clinical trials of maintenance and acute treatment of depression and modification for primary care they called Interpersonal Counseling. They published the first IPT manual in 1984.John C. Markowitz, MD, received his medical degree from Columbia University and did his residency training in psychiatry at the Payne Whitney Clinic of Cornell Medical Center, where he was trained in interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) by the late Gerald L.
First at Cornell and then at Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute, Dr. Markowitz has conducted comparative studies of IPT, other psychotherapies, and medications, studying mood, anxiety, and personality disorders. He has received numerous grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and other organizations, has published several hundred articles and book chapters, and has taught and supervised IPT around the world.Gerald L. Klerman, MD, was mentor of Dr. Weissman (his wife) and Dr. He was convinced that interpersonal relationships importantly influenced the course and recurrence of illness, and that psychotherapy could potentially stabilize interpersonal relations. Gerry was the force behind the original ideas in the first Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) manual (Klerman et al., 1984) and many of its adaptations.
Gerry died young in April 1992. Even years after his death, his writing on IPT is pervasive. Gerry held numerous prestigious positions in psychiatry and government. He graduated from New York University Medical School and did his residency at Harvard. He was professor at Yale University, Harvard Medical School, and lastly, Weill Medical College of Cornell University. He was appointed by President Carter to lead the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, a position he held between 1977 and 1980.