Interpersonal Psychotherapy
What is Interpersonal Psychotherapy?
Interpersonal psychotherapy is a time-limited treatment for depression. It recognizes that depression is a
medical illness that usually occurs in an interpersonal or social context and is influenced by that context
(Weissman, Markowitz & Klerman 2000; Klerman, Weissman, Rounsaville & Chevron 1984). When problems
in that interpersonal or social context are addressed, depressive symptoms are often decreased.
Interpersonal psychotherapy focuses on one or two areas in a client's current interpersonal and social
context. These areas are agreed upon by the therapist and client early in the therapy and may include grief,
interpersonal role disputes, role transitions, or interpersonal skill development. Treatment typically consists
of twelve to sixteen sessions held once a week.
Women who are depressed deserve compassionate and effective treatment simply because they are
experiencing depression. When they are also mothers, because of the enormous impact of depression on
maternal depression on children, the treatment of depression during the childbearing years is critical
(Weissman & Olfson 1995).
Interpersonal psychotherapy of depression is compatible with other forms of therapy for depression including
medication, nutritional counseling, and exercise.
How Effective is Interpersonal Psychotherapy Effective?
A great deal of research has shown that short-term, time-limited psychotherapy is useful in meeting the
needs of most patients (Howard, et al. 1986). Interpersonal psychotherapy has been shown to decrease
mean depression scores for pregnant women (Spinelli 1997). Among women with postpartum depression,
44 percent showed remission of their depression after receiving interpersonal psychotherapy; sixty percent of
the women receiving interpersonal psychotherapy showed a greater than 50% reduction on the Beck
Depression Inventory (Stuart & O'Hara, 1995; Weissman, Markowitz & Klerman 2000). These rates are
substantially higher than the rates of improvement shown for control groups and women receiving no
treatment at all.
References
Howard, K., Kopta, S., Krause, M., and Orlinsky, D. The dose-effect relationship in psychotherapy. Am
Psychologist 1986; 41: 159-64.
Klerman, G., Weissman, M., Rounsaville, B., and Chevron, E. Interpersonal psychotherapy of depression.
New York: Basic Books 1984.
Spinelli, M. Interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed pregnant HIV-positive women: A pilot study. Am J
Psychiatry 1997; 154:1028-30.
Stuart, S., and O'Hara, M. Interpersonal psychotherapy for postpartum depression. J Psychotherapy Practice
and Research 1995; 4:18-29.
Stuart, S. and O'Hara, M. Treatment of postpartum depression with interpersonal psychotherapy. Arch Gen
Psychiatry 1995; 52:75-76.
Weissman, M., Markowitz, J., and Klerman, G. Comprehensive guide to interpersonal psychotherapy. New
York: Basic Books 2000.
Weissman, M. and Olfson, M. Depression in women: implications for health care research. Science 1995;
269:799-801.
Interpersonal psychotherapy is a time-limited treatment for depression. It recognizes that depression is a
medical illness that usually occurs in an interpersonal or social context and is influenced by that context
(Weissman, Markowitz & Klerman 2000; Klerman, Weissman, Rounsaville & Chevron 1984). When problems
in that interpersonal or social context are addressed, depressive symptoms are often decreased.
Interpersonal psychotherapy focuses on one or two areas in a client's current interpersonal and social
context. These areas are agreed upon by the therapist and client early in the therapy and may include grief,
interpersonal role disputes, role transitions, or interpersonal skill development. Treatment typically consists
of twelve to sixteen sessions held once a week.
Women who are depressed deserve compassionate and effective treatment simply because they are
experiencing depression. When they are also mothers, because of the enormous impact of depression on
maternal depression on children, the treatment of depression during the childbearing years is critical
(Weissman & Olfson 1995).
Interpersonal psychotherapy of depression is compatible with other forms of therapy for depression including
medication, nutritional counseling, and exercise.
How Effective is Interpersonal Psychotherapy Effective?
A great deal of research has shown that short-term, time-limited psychotherapy is useful in meeting the
needs of most patients (Howard, et al. 1986). Interpersonal psychotherapy has been shown to decrease
mean depression scores for pregnant women (Spinelli 1997). Among women with postpartum depression,
44 percent showed remission of their depression after receiving interpersonal psychotherapy; sixty percent of
the women receiving interpersonal psychotherapy showed a greater than 50% reduction on the Beck
Depression Inventory (Stuart & O'Hara, 1995; Weissman, Markowitz & Klerman 2000). These rates are
substantially higher than the rates of improvement shown for control groups and women receiving no
treatment at all.
References
Howard, K., Kopta, S., Krause, M., and Orlinsky, D. The dose-effect relationship in psychotherapy. Am
Psychologist 1986; 41: 159-64.
Klerman, G., Weissman, M., Rounsaville, B., and Chevron, E. Interpersonal psychotherapy of depression.
New York: Basic Books 1984.
Spinelli, M. Interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed pregnant HIV-positive women: A pilot study. Am J
Psychiatry 1997; 154:1028-30.
Stuart, S., and O'Hara, M. Interpersonal psychotherapy for postpartum depression. J Psychotherapy Practice
and Research 1995; 4:18-29.
Stuart, S. and O'Hara, M. Treatment of postpartum depression with interpersonal psychotherapy. Arch Gen
Psychiatry 1995; 52:75-76.
Weissman, M., Markowitz, J., and Klerman, G. Comprehensive guide to interpersonal psychotherapy. New
York: Basic Books 2000.
Weissman, M. and Olfson, M. Depression in women: implications for health care research. Science 1995;
269:799-801.
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| Copyright 2005 Cynthia Good Mojab All rights reserved |
LifeCircle Counseling and Consulting, LLC