Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) was developed to treat adult depression. It has also been applied to the treatment of depression in adolescents, the elderly, and individuals with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Interpersonal therapy was derived from psychodynamic therapy and from psychoanalysis
The interpersonal therapy model was developed for the treatment of depression and then modified for use with other populations and mental disorders. This is why it’s important to have an understanding of this model’s approach to depression. Interpersonal therapists focus on the functional role of depression rather than on its etiology or cause, and they look at the ways in which problematic interactions develop when a person becomes depressed.
IPT postualtes that there are 3 dimensions to depression: the development of symptoms, which arise from biological, genetic and/or psychodynamic processes; social interactions with other people, which are based on our life experiences; and personality, made up of the more enduring traits and behaviors that may predispose a person to depressive symptoms. IPT intervenes at the levels of symptom formation and social functioning, and does not attempt to alter aspects of the client's personality.
Interpersonal psychotherapy offers two possible treatment plans for persons with depressive syptoms. The first plan treats the acute episode of depression by getting rid of the current depressive symptoms. This approach requires intervening while the person is in the midst of a depression. The acute phase of treatment typically lasts two to four months with weekly sessions. Many clients terminate treatment at that point, after their symptoms have subsided. Maintenance treatment is the second treatment plan and is much less commonly utilized than acute treatment. This is a longer-term therapy based on the principles of interpersonal therapy but with the aim of preventing and reducing the frequency of depressive smptoms in the future. Clients who engage in both phases may be in therapy for at least two years.
IPT has a good evidence-base for the effective treatment of depression.
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