Understanding How Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) Functions

Nancy Schimelpfening, MS, leads the Depression Sanctuary, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting those affected by depression. With extensive personal experience, Nancy understands the profound impact of this condition.

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) equips you with insights about yourself and enhances your relationships. Collaborating with a therapist, you gain clarity on your emotions and thoughts, as well as those of people around you. Whether managing depression or navigating significant emotional shifts, IPT techniques offer practical support both immediately and over time.

Let’s explore what IPT entails, the mental health issues it addresses, its core methods, and how to determine if it suits your needs.

Quick Overview

IPT focuses on understanding how your emotions and thoughts influence your relationships. Typically, therapy spans 12 to 16 sessions.

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What Is Interpersonal Therapy?

IPT is a time-limited psychotherapy approach primarily used to treat depression, usually over 12 to 16 sessions.

When IPT was developed, many professionals viewed depression as primarily an individual issue. IPT shifted this perspective by highlighting how external factors, especially interpersonal relationships, significantly impact mental health.

As the name suggests, IPT centers on your social connections and interactions, examining the support you receive and how these relationships influence your psychological well-being.

Unlike other psychotherapies that delve into past inner conflicts, IPT concentrates on present relationships, their effects on depressive symptoms, and strategies to improve these connections and your mental health.

IPT acknowledges that depression can stem from relational challenges rather than solely personal issues.

Variations of Interpersonal Therapy

IPT has evolved into several forms, including dynamic and metacognitive approaches.

Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT)

Also known as psychodynamic interpersonal therapy or mentalization-based therapy, DIT helps you deepen your understanding of your own and others’ thoughts and feelings. Typically, it involves 16 sessions over five months.

Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy (MIT)

MIT integrates strategies to address emotional inhibition and avoidance, particularly useful for personality disorders. Research indicates that a 12-week MIT program can reduce depression symptoms and enhance emotional awareness.

IPT is also adapted for couples therapy, especially when relationship difficulties contribute to depression.

Core Techniques in Interpersonal Therapy

IPT approaches depression by focusing on improving relationships. Therapists start with an interpersonal inventory, reviewing significant past and current relationships, categorized into four main problem areas.

Grief

Depression may follow the loss of a loved one. While grief is natural, unresolved grief—either delayed or distorted—can prolong depressive symptoms, including insomnia and fatigue.

Role Dispute

Conflicts arise when you and important people have conflicting expectations about your relationship, such as differing views on affection or communication, potentially leading to depression.

Role Transition

Major life changes, like marriage, divorce, parenthood, or retirement, can trigger depression if coping with new roles becomes challenging.

Interpersonal Challenges

Difficulty forming or maintaining quality relationships may stem from feelings of inadequacy, trouble expressing emotions, or limiting beliefs. Therapists help identify these barriers and develop strategies to overcome them.

Your therapist will focus on the interpersonal area most impacting your current difficulties and tailor IPT accordingly.

Conditions Treated with Interpersonal Therapy

Initially designed for depression, IPT now supports treatment for various mental health issues, including:

• Anxiety
• Bipolar disorder
• Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
• Dysthymia
• Eating disorders
• Perinatal and postpartum depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Social anxiety disorders
• Substance and alcohol use disorders

IPT also aids those facing attachment difficulties, grief, life adjustments, and relationship conflicts.

Advantages of Interpersonal Therapy

IPT offers significant benefits, such as:

• Enhanced relationships: By understanding how your interactions influence your life, IPT promotes better social functioning and alleviates depression.
• Reduced depressive symptoms: IPT aims to lessen depression by improving interpersonal dynamics.

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Effectiveness of Interpersonal Therapy

IPT is proven effective for various depressive disorders and other mental health conditions. It can be particularly beneficial when combined with medication.

Research highlights include:

• A 2013 meta-analysis revealed IPT’s equivalence to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for major depressive disorder, recommending it as a first-line treatment.
• Studies indicate IPT may prevent onset and relapse of major depression.
• Evidence supports IPT’s efficacy in treating eating disorders, anxiety, substance abuse, and more.
• Couples engaging in IPT report improved depression and relationship satisfaction.

Is Interpersonal Therapy the Right Choice for You?

IPT may not suit everyone, and that’s perfectly normal. Each individual’s mental health journey is unique, and treatment effectiveness varies.

Because IPT requires motivation to explore and modify your role within relationships, it might be challenging if you’re unwilling or unable to engage in this process.

Conditions like depression and eating disorders can be chronic, necessitating maintenance sessions post-treatment to sustain progress and prevent relapse.

What to Expect During Interpersonal Therapy

IPT typically spans 12 to 16 weeks, featuring structured sessions with ongoing assessments, therapist interviews, and homework.

Initial sessions focus on understanding your symptoms and relationship history.

Therapy then targets the interpersonal areas causing the most difficulty, adapting strategies as you progress.

IPT can be delivered individually or in groups, in-person or online. Sometimes, therapists invite significant others to participate.

Many find combining IPT with medication yields the most effective outcomes.

Read more:

• Conditions A-Z
• Depression
• Treatment

Sources available upon request.

By Nancy Schimelpfening
Nancy Schimelpfening, MS, administers the Depression Sanctuary nonprofit and brings lifelong experience with depression, understanding its profound challenges.

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