Interpersonal therapy

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

Interpersonal Therapy (pronunciation: in-ter-per-so-nal ther-a-py, from the Latin inter meaning "between" and persona meaning "person") is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on improving the quality of a patient's interpersonal relationships and social functioning to help reduce their distress.

History

Interpersonal Therapy was developed in the 1970s by Gerald Klerman and Myrna Weissman for the treatment of depression. It is based on the theories of Harry Stack Sullivan and Adolf Meyer, who believed that interpersonal relationships and social roles are significant factors in mental health and illness.

Method

Interpersonal Therapy is a time-limited treatment that encourages the patient to regain control of mood and functioning typically within 12 to 16 weeks. It is highly structured and focuses on the interpersonal context and on building interpersonal skills. IPT is based on the belief that interpersonal factors may contribute significantly to psychological problems.

It is commonly used to treat depression, but may also be beneficial in treating anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders.

Techniques

Interpersonal Therapy uses a variety of techniques, including:

Interpersonal Incidents: The therapist helps the patient identify recent interpersonal incidents and understand their role in the patient's mood.
Interpersonal Deficits: The therapist helps the patient identify patterns of problematic relationships or social isolation and develop strategies for improving their social skills.
Role Transitions: The therapist helps the patient cope with changes in life roles, such as becoming a parent or retiring from a career.
Grief and Mourning: The therapist helps the patient deal with grief and loss.

Effectiveness

Numerous studies have shown that Interpersonal Therapy is effective in treating depression, particularly when combined with medication. It is also effective in treating other mental health disorders, such as eating disorders and anxiety disorders.

References

External Links

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Interpersonal therapy
Wikipedia's article - Interpersonal therapy

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Interpersonal therapy