Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is a time-limited psychotherapy approach (12–16 sessions) developed specifically for treating depression. It is based on the relationship between interpersonal problems and the development and maintenance of depression.
IPT works within one of four focal areas: complicated grief (loss of a significant person), role disputes (conflicts in important relationships), role transitions (life changes such as divorce, retirement, or new parenthood), and interpersonal deficits (difficulty forming or maintaining relationships). The therapist helps the patient identify how interpersonal events affect mood, and vice versa.
It has efficacy comparable to CBT for depression and is especially useful when a depressive episode is clearly tied to a life event or relational conflict. It is also a first-line treatment for postpartum depression.
Practical example
Clara became depressed after her divorce. In IPT, the therapist identified "role transition" — from married to single — as the focal area. Over 14 sessions, Clara worked through her grief over the marriage, redefined her identity, and built skills for creating a new support network. Her mood improved significantly alongside this work.
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