Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a time-limited psychotherapy developed for depression, but modified for other conditions. It is based on the principle that regardless of the underlying cause of depression, the onset of symptoms is triggered by an interpersonal disruption. The goal of IPT is to decrease depressive symptoms by understanding and managing the interpersonal context in which they developed. IPT's efficacy has been demonstrated in numerous clinical trials, leading to modifications of the treatment for different settings and populations. This chapter provides an overview of IPT, including its theoretical and empirical basis, course of treatment, and research evidence.