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IPT · 5 min read

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Depression is treated by working on the interpersonal context that surrounds it.

Originator: Gerald Klerman & Myrna Weissman (1970s)Best for: Major depression · Perinatal depression · Bulimia · Adolescent depression · Bereavement-related depression

Core idea

IPT is a structured, 12–16 session treatment built on the idea that depression always occurs in an interpersonal context, and that resolving the current interpersonal problem will resolve the depressive episode. The therapist and client identify one of four problem areas and work on it directly, while explicitly framing depression as a medical illness to reduce self-blame.

Key concepts

Sick role
Naming depression as an illness — temporarily reduces self-criticism and mobilizes support.
Four problem areas
Grief, role disputes, role transitions, interpersonal deficits — pick one.
Interpersonal inventory
Map of current significant relationships, assessed in sessions 1–3.
Affect-focused exploration
Stay with feelings as they arise in interpersonal events.
Communication analysis
Replay a specific interaction; identify breakdowns and alternatives.

What a session looks like

  1. 1
    Sessions 1–3
    Diagnose, give sick role, take interpersonal inventory, agree on problem area.
  2. 2
    Sessions 4–12
    Focused work on the chosen area — grief, dispute, transition, or deficits.
  3. 3
    Each session
    How have you been since we last met? + interpersonal event review + skills.
  4. 4
    Closure
    Review gains, identify warning signs, plan maintenance.

Signature techniques

Interpersonal inventory
Detailed map of who matters, the quality of each relationship, recent changes.
Communication analysis
Moment-by-moment review of a recent significant interaction.
Role play
Practice difficult conversations before having them.
Decision analysis
Structured exploration of options in a role dispute or transition.
Linking mood to interpersonal events
Repeated explicit connections — the core teaching.

Evidence base

Major RCT base for depression — comparable to CBT and medication. WHO-endorsed for perinatal depression in low-resource settings (IPT-G, group format). Strong evidence for bulimia and adolescent depression. Maintenance IPT shown to extend remission.

Common pitfalls

  • ▸Drifting into open-ended exploration rather than staying on the chosen problem area.
  • ▸Skipping the sick role — clients carry on blaming themselves and engagement suffers.
  • ▸Working on too many problem areas at once.
  • ▸Treating IPT as just supportive therapy with structure — communication analysis is the engine.

Where to go next

The Guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Weissman, Markowitz, Klerman
The current clinician's manual.
Group Interpersonal Therapy for Depression
WHO/Columbia (free)
Open-access manual for group IPT.
ISIPT Trainings
International Society for IPT
Standard training and certification pathway.