Interpersonal Psychotherapy

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

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