5 Things You Need to Know About Interpersonal Psychotherapy

1. Depression Calls for IPT

Clinically depressed people are at higher risk of suicide and experience a higher mortality from other causes, and they require medical intervention to treat their depression. Interpersonal psychotherapy, also known as IPT, can be combined with prescription medicine or used as an alternative treatment for clinical depression. It can also be used with other maintenance therapies. Originally developed as treatment for adults, interpersonal psychotherapy can be modified for use with older adults, adolescents and patients who suffer from a range of disorders such as bulimia, postpartum depression and bipolar disorder.

2. Communication Is the Key

Interpersonal psychotherapy focuses on the communication between individuals to improve their quality of life. Many people do not know how to effectively communicate, and this deficit can cause various problems in many different areas of relationships: marriage, friendship, parent/child and work.
Learning how to effectively communicate can help to alleviate some of the symptoms associated with depression, anxiety and other pervasive mental disturbances. Effective communication allows for people to talk openly about problems and issues rather than keeping them in a shroud of darkness, which fosters resentment and anger. Learning active listening skills and how to invoke active listening in others has proven beneficial for individuals who believe that they are not listened to or valued.

3. Reduce Depression, Improve Function

The fundamentals of IPT are rooted in the belief that changing a person's mental functioning will result in an improvement in behavior and thought processes. Depression often wreaks havoc on a person's physical and emotional centers, creating internal and external conflict. Self-esteem runs low, energy runs low and physical complications make depression that much more difficult.
IPT uses cognitive reframing to help the patient recognize and change negative self-talk and negative communication tactics. Interpersonal psychotherapy allows for clients to gain confidence and reassurance of their worth, thus helping them to find their own sense of self-esteem and balance again. Depression treatment is often supplemented with medical intervention using antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications, although this should be determined according to each case.

4. Short but Extensive

IPT is typically delivered in short doses as a supplement to a medical treatment for the problem at hand. Most interpersonal therapeutic stints last anywhere between 2 months and 6 months, depending upon the severity of the case. Typically, IPT is terminated when the pervasive symptoms of the illness are alleviated.
Once the patient feels ready to return to the world without the assistance of therapy, she is typically released; however, it is not uncommon for IPT counselors to release patients into the care of a different therapist who attends to more long-term concerns. While IPT treatment is typically shorter in length, some studies show the benefit of IPT in long-term treatment plans.

5. Where's the IPT Therapist?

Interpersonal psychotherapy is a relatively new form of therapy and thus has a limited number of licensed practitioners available to administer its benefits. However, you can visit the International Society of Interpersonal Psychotherapy website and look for referral options, or visit another website specializing in matching symptoms with the correct kind of therapy. While IPT is not for everyone, it is an effective short-term treatment. IPT should be administered only by someone who is licensed and trained in this particular form of therapy. Check with your medical doctor or call a counseling referral service for IPT counselors in or around your area.