What is Interpersonal Psychotherapy?
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is a time-limited (12-16 sessions) focused, evidence-based approach to treat mood disorders, such as Major Depressive Disorder. The main goal of IPT is to improve the quality of a client’s interpersonal relationships and social functioning to help reduce their distress. IPT provides strategies to resolve problems within four key areas.
First, it addresses interpersonal deficits, including social isolation or involvement in unfulfilling relationships. Second, it can help patients manage unresolved grief—if the onset of distress is linked to the death of a loved one, either recent or past. Third, IPT can help with difficult life transitions like divorce or moving to another city. Fourth, IPT is recommended for dealing with interpersonal disputes that emerge from conflicting expectations between partners, family members, close friends, or coworkers. IPT aims to change relationship patterns rather than the associated depressive symptoms, as well as target relationship difficulties that exacerbate these symptoms.
IPT first appeared as part of a study investigating the efficacy of antidepressants and was found comparable in efficacy to medication.
