Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHistoryTypesProcess
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
History
Types
Process
Interpersonal therapy, or interpersonal psychotherapy, (IPT) is a time-limited, highly structured form of psychotherapy (talk therapy).
IPT typically consists of 12–16 hour-long sessions with a trained therapist. Sessions occur in one-on-one or group settings.
Along with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), IPT is the psychotherapy most commonly recommended for treatingdepression. Originally developed as a brief treatment for depression, IPT has been adapted to treat many other mental health disorders.
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IPT differs from other types of psychotherapy in its focus on an individual’s current social relationships and interactions.
It is:
Foundation of IPTThe foundation of IPT rests on these two notions:First, mental health disorders such as depression are medical illnesses that have complex biological and environmental causes. They are no one’s fault.Second, our moods and mental health affect our social relationships. In turn, our social relationships and social functioning affect our moods. Forming and maintaining strong, supportive relationships and improving social functioning can therefore help alleviate the symptoms of depression and those of other mental health disorders.
Foundation of IPT
The foundation of IPT rests on these two notions:First, mental health disorders such as depression are medical illnesses that have complex biological and environmental causes. They are no one’s fault.Second, our moods and mental health affect our social relationships. In turn, our social relationships and social functioning affect our moods. Forming and maintaining strong, supportive relationships and improving social functioning can therefore help alleviate the symptoms of depression and those of other mental health disorders.
The foundation of IPT rests on these two notions:
Since its introduction, researchers have adapted IPT for other mental health disorders and for use in teens and children.IPT originally was used in research studies but has since moved into clinical practice.
Conditions Treated
IPT was initially developed as a time-limited treatment for depression, for which several studies have found it effective.IPT is often used in conjunction with antidepressants. The combination of IPT and antidepressants is a more effective treatment for depression than either one of these therapies alone.
Additional studies have found IPT can help treat a variety of mental health disorders, including:
IPT EffectivenessIPT has been studied as a treatment for depression and found to be as effective as CBT in treating depression and in preventing depression relapse. Although IPT alone can help alleviate depression, it works best when provided in conjunction with antidepressants.
IPT Effectiveness
IPT has been studied as a treatment for depression and found to be as effective as CBT in treating depression and in preventing depression relapse. Although IPT alone can help alleviate depression, it works best when provided in conjunction with antidepressants.
Several types of IPT are in use. Some of the most common types are:
Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy
Sometimes also known as psychodynamic interpersonal therapy or mentalization-based therapy, this type of IPT focuses on understanding your own thoughts, feelings, and desires as well as those of others, and how those thoughts, feelings, and desires affect behavior.
Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy
Metacognitive interpersonal therapy focuses on understanding the basic social motives underpinning human behavior. It uses these drives and motives as a lens for understanding your own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs as well as the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of others.
Metacognitive interpersonal therapy emphasizes recognizing and overcoming maladaptive social behaviors (such as avoidance, withdrawal, and passive aggression) stemming from those thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. This type of therapy is sometimes delivered in a group setting.
Interpersonal and Social Rhythms Therapy
Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) is designed to treat bipolar disorder. It emphasizes the importance of regular sleeping and eating schedules as well as social functioning in helping people with bipolar disorder avoid mood episodes and manage their symptoms.It is used in combination with medication.
Despite being highly structured, each person’s therapeutic experience is unique, because IPT is tailored to the specific mental health condition being treated and to an individual’s needs and goals.
Bipolar Disorder Treatments to Manage Symptoms
During your first few sessions of IPT, your therapist will learn about your symptoms and goals, catalog your important interpersonal relationships, and work with you to identify one or two problems within your social interactions.
These problems in your social interactions generally fall into one of these four buckets:
In the next phase, your therapist helps you find ways to understand and tackle the identified issues. To do so, your therapist may engage in several strategies, which are:
Your sessions will also involve structured interviews and assessments. Outside of your sessions, your therapist may encourage you to share your thoughts and feelings with other people or to engage in social activities that you have previously avoided.
As your IPT progresses, your therapist will take more of a backseat as you apply your new perspectives and interpersonal skills to solve your problems.
During your final sessions, your therapist will help you adjust to ending your therapeutic relationship and becoming more independent in managing your interpersonal relationships.
Maintenance therapySometimes IPT continues beyond the initial 12–16 weeks as a maintenance therapy to prevent a relapse.Maintenance therapy typically occurs less frequently than the initial round, on a monthly rather than weekly basis.
Maintenance therapy
Sometimes IPT continues beyond the initial 12–16 weeks as a maintenance therapy to prevent a relapse.Maintenance therapy typically occurs less frequently than the initial round, on a monthly rather than weekly basis.
A Word from Verywell
IPT is a well-studied and heavily supported treatment for depression and other mental health disorders. In contrast to some other popular forms of therapy, like CBT (which focuses on an individual’s thoughts and behaviors) and the psychodynamic approach (which focuses on past and current relationships and subconscious thoughts and emotions), IPT focuses primarily on current interpersonal interactions and social functioning.
As with any therapy, IPT works best when you find a therapist with whom you feel safe and comfortable sharing your innermost thoughts and feelings.
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15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Markowitz JC, Weissman MM.Interpersonal psychotherapy: principles and applications.World Psychiatry. 2004;3(3):136-139.CAMH.What is interpersonal psychotherapy?Cuijpers P, Donker T, Weissman MM, Ravitz P, Cristea IA.Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Mental Health Problems: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis.Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(7):680-687. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15091141Lipsitz JD, Markowitz JC.Mechanisms of change in interpersonal therapy (IPT).Clin Psychol Rev. 2013;33(8):1134-1147. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2013.09.002APA Dictionary of Psychology.Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT).Mufson L, Dorta KP, Wickramaratne P, Nomura Y, Olfson M, Weissman MM.A randomized effectiveness trial of interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004;61(6):577-584. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.61.6.577Cuijpers P, Geraedts AS, van Oppen P, Andersson G, Markowitz JC, van Straten A.Interpersonal psychotherapy for depression: a meta-analysis[published correction appears in Am J Psychiatry. 2011 Jun;168(6):652].Am J Psychiatry. 2011;168(6):581-592. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.10101411van Hees ML, Rotter T, Ellermann T, Evers SM.The effectiveness of individual interpersonal psychotherapy as a treatment for major depressive disorder in adult outpatients: a systematic review.BMC Psychiatry. 2013;13:22. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-13-22Sattel H, Lahmann C, Gündel H, et al.Brief psychodynamic interpersonal psychotherapy for patients with multisomatoform disorder: randomised controlled trial.British Journal of Psychiatry. 2012;200(1):60-67. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.111.093526Campanini RF, Schoedl AF, Pupo MC, Costa AC, Krupnick JL, Mello MF.Efficacy of interpersonal therapy-group format adapted to post-traumatic stress disorder: an open-label add-on trial.Depress Anxiety. 2010;27(1):72-77. doi:10.1002/da.20610Sockol LE, Epperson CN, Barber JP.A meta-analysis of treatments for perinatal depression.Clin Psychol Rev. 2011;31(5):839-849. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2011.03.009Haynes PL, Gengler D, Kelly M.Social Rhythm Therapies for Mood Disorders: an Update.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016;18(8):75. doi:10.1007/s11920-016-0712-3UCL Psychology and Language Sciences.Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy.Popolo R, MacBeth A, Brunello S, et al.Metacognitive interpersonal therapy in group: a feasibility study.Res Psychother. 2018;21(3):338. doi:10.4081/ripppo.2018.338Saling, J. Interpersonal Therapy for Depression. WebMd.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Markowitz JC, Weissman MM.Interpersonal psychotherapy: principles and applications.World Psychiatry. 2004;3(3):136-139.CAMH.What is interpersonal psychotherapy?Cuijpers P, Donker T, Weissman MM, Ravitz P, Cristea IA.Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Mental Health Problems: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis.Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(7):680-687. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15091141Lipsitz JD, Markowitz JC.Mechanisms of change in interpersonal therapy (IPT).Clin Psychol Rev. 2013;33(8):1134-1147. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2013.09.002APA Dictionary of Psychology.Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT).Mufson L, Dorta KP, Wickramaratne P, Nomura Y, Olfson M, Weissman MM.A randomized effectiveness trial of interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004;61(6):577-584. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.61.6.577Cuijpers P, Geraedts AS, van Oppen P, Andersson G, Markowitz JC, van Straten A.Interpersonal psychotherapy for depression: a meta-analysis[published correction appears in Am J Psychiatry. 2011 Jun;168(6):652].Am J Psychiatry. 2011;168(6):581-592. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.10101411van Hees ML, Rotter T, Ellermann T, Evers SM.The effectiveness of individual interpersonal psychotherapy as a treatment for major depressive disorder in adult outpatients: a systematic review.BMC Psychiatry. 2013;13:22. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-13-22Sattel H, Lahmann C, Gündel H, et al.Brief psychodynamic interpersonal psychotherapy for patients with multisomatoform disorder: randomised controlled trial.British Journal of Psychiatry. 2012;200(1):60-67. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.111.093526Campanini RF, Schoedl AF, Pupo MC, Costa AC, Krupnick JL, Mello MF.Efficacy of interpersonal therapy-group format adapted to post-traumatic stress disorder: an open-label add-on trial.Depress Anxiety. 2010;27(1):72-77. doi:10.1002/da.20610Sockol LE, Epperson CN, Barber JP.A meta-analysis of treatments for perinatal depression.Clin Psychol Rev. 2011;31(5):839-849. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2011.03.009Haynes PL, Gengler D, Kelly M.Social Rhythm Therapies for Mood Disorders: an Update.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016;18(8):75. doi:10.1007/s11920-016-0712-3UCL Psychology and Language Sciences.Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy.Popolo R, MacBeth A, Brunello S, et al.Metacognitive interpersonal therapy in group: a feasibility study.Res Psychother. 2018;21(3):338. doi:10.4081/ripppo.2018.338Saling, J. Interpersonal Therapy for Depression. WebMd.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Markowitz JC, Weissman MM.Interpersonal psychotherapy: principles and applications.World Psychiatry. 2004;3(3):136-139.CAMH.What is interpersonal psychotherapy?Cuijpers P, Donker T, Weissman MM, Ravitz P, Cristea IA.Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Mental Health Problems: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis.Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(7):680-687. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15091141Lipsitz JD, Markowitz JC.Mechanisms of change in interpersonal therapy (IPT).Clin Psychol Rev. 2013;33(8):1134-1147. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2013.09.002APA Dictionary of Psychology.Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT).Mufson L, Dorta KP, Wickramaratne P, Nomura Y, Olfson M, Weissman MM.A randomized effectiveness trial of interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004;61(6):577-584. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.61.6.577Cuijpers P, Geraedts AS, van Oppen P, Andersson G, Markowitz JC, van Straten A.Interpersonal psychotherapy for depression: a meta-analysis[published correction appears in Am J Psychiatry. 2011 Jun;168(6):652].Am J Psychiatry. 2011;168(6):581-592. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.10101411van Hees ML, Rotter T, Ellermann T, Evers SM.The effectiveness of individual interpersonal psychotherapy as a treatment for major depressive disorder in adult outpatients: a systematic review.BMC Psychiatry. 2013;13:22. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-13-22Sattel H, Lahmann C, Gündel H, et al.Brief psychodynamic interpersonal psychotherapy for patients with multisomatoform disorder: randomised controlled trial.British Journal of Psychiatry. 2012;200(1):60-67. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.111.093526Campanini RF, Schoedl AF, Pupo MC, Costa AC, Krupnick JL, Mello MF.Efficacy of interpersonal therapy-group format adapted to post-traumatic stress disorder: an open-label add-on trial.Depress Anxiety. 2010;27(1):72-77. doi:10.1002/da.20610Sockol LE, Epperson CN, Barber JP.A meta-analysis of treatments for perinatal depression.Clin Psychol Rev. 2011;31(5):839-849. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2011.03.009Haynes PL, Gengler D, Kelly M.Social Rhythm Therapies for Mood Disorders: an Update.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016;18(8):75. doi:10.1007/s11920-016-0712-3UCL Psychology and Language Sciences.Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy.Popolo R, MacBeth A, Brunello S, et al.Metacognitive interpersonal therapy in group: a feasibility study.Res Psychother. 2018;21(3):338. doi:10.4081/ripppo.2018.338Saling, J. Interpersonal Therapy for Depression. WebMd.
Markowitz JC, Weissman MM.Interpersonal psychotherapy: principles and applications.World Psychiatry. 2004;3(3):136-139.
CAMH.What is interpersonal psychotherapy?
Cuijpers P, Donker T, Weissman MM, Ravitz P, Cristea IA.Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Mental Health Problems: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis.Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(7):680-687. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15091141
Lipsitz JD, Markowitz JC.Mechanisms of change in interpersonal therapy (IPT).Clin Psychol Rev. 2013;33(8):1134-1147. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2013.09.002
APA Dictionary of Psychology.Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT).
Mufson L, Dorta KP, Wickramaratne P, Nomura Y, Olfson M, Weissman MM.A randomized effectiveness trial of interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004;61(6):577-584. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.61.6.577
Cuijpers P, Geraedts AS, van Oppen P, Andersson G, Markowitz JC, van Straten A.Interpersonal psychotherapy for depression: a meta-analysis[published correction appears in Am J Psychiatry. 2011 Jun;168(6):652].Am J Psychiatry. 2011;168(6):581-592. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.10101411
van Hees ML, Rotter T, Ellermann T, Evers SM.The effectiveness of individual interpersonal psychotherapy as a treatment for major depressive disorder in adult outpatients: a systematic review.BMC Psychiatry. 2013;13:22. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-13-22
Sattel H, Lahmann C, Gündel H, et al.Brief psychodynamic interpersonal psychotherapy for patients with multisomatoform disorder: randomised controlled trial.British Journal of Psychiatry. 2012;200(1):60-67. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.111.093526
Campanini RF, Schoedl AF, Pupo MC, Costa AC, Krupnick JL, Mello MF.Efficacy of interpersonal therapy-group format adapted to post-traumatic stress disorder: an open-label add-on trial.Depress Anxiety. 2010;27(1):72-77. doi:10.1002/da.20610
Sockol LE, Epperson CN, Barber JP.A meta-analysis of treatments for perinatal depression.Clin Psychol Rev. 2011;31(5):839-849. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2011.03.009
Haynes PL, Gengler D, Kelly M.Social Rhythm Therapies for Mood Disorders: an Update.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016;18(8):75. doi:10.1007/s11920-016-0712-3
UCL Psychology and Language Sciences.Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy.
Popolo R, MacBeth A, Brunello S, et al.Metacognitive interpersonal therapy in group: a feasibility study.Res Psychother. 2018;21(3):338. doi:10.4081/ripppo.2018.338
Saling, J. Interpersonal Therapy for Depression. WebMd.
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