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APA Psychotherapy Training Videos are intended solely for educational purposes for mental health professionals. Viewers are expected to treat confidential material found herein according to strict professional guidelines. Unauthorized viewing is prohibited.
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is a time-limited psychotherapy that has been found to be effective in the treatment of depression. IPT is based on theory and research that have demonstrated that interpersonally relevant issues often precede the onset of depression and that depression itself may seed interpersonal difficulties. IPT is divided into three phases. During the initial sessions a diagnosis of depression is made, an inventory of social relationships is gathered, recent interpersonal problems are identified, and goals of treatment are set. In the intermediate sessions, the therapist works with the client to address one or at most two interpersonal problems: role transitions (major life change), interpersonal role dispute (conflict with a significant other), grief (complicated bereavement), or interpersonal deficits (individuals who have problems in initiating and/or sustaining relationships). The final phase of treatment is termination during which the course of treatment is reviewed and feelings associated with end of treatment are discussed. The therapeutic ethos of IPT is one of collaborative empowerment. The psychoeducational components of IPT bring the client into a conversation about depression and its treatment. While establishing an emphatic understanding of how depression impairs the individual's ability to function, the therapist also quickly moves the client into an exploration of options to deal with challenging interpersonal issues. The therapeutic mantra of IPT is "What are your options?" A typical IPT client is a depressed woman in her seventies who is providing care to a husband with dementia or physical health problems. IPT would not be recommended for older adults who are not depressed or who do not have an interpersonally relevant issue. Return to Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Older Adults With Depression |
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