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Inter Personal Therapy
IPT is a psychological treatment that emphasizes the link between mood and current interpersonal relationship difficulties.
Overview of IPT
IPT is a psychological treatment originally designed for the needs of depressed patients but has since been modified for other disorders. It is a focused, time-limited psychotherapy that emphasises the link between mood and the current interpersonal relations of the patient.
The emphasis is on current problems within the interpersonal context, IPT aims to help patients change, rather than to simply understand and accept their current life situation. The influence on early childhood experience is recognised as significant but not emphasised in therapy. The work focuses on the “here and now” and treatment goals are to help patients gain a sense of control, combat social isolation, restore a sense of social belonging and find meaning in their lives.
Characteristics of IPT
• It is time limited, not long term
• It is focused, not open-ended
• It deals with current, not past interpersonal relationships
• Interpersonal, not cognitive/behavioural— tries to change the way the person feels, thinks and acts in problematic interpersonal relationships relating to significant people in the person’s life
The role of the IPT Therapist
• Non-judgemental
• Active, not directive
• Does not formally assign homework—pressure to change is ‘non-specific’
The Patient’s role
• Ultimate responsibility for change lies with the patient
• Outside therapy patients change their behaviour at their own pace
• Important that they work on issues / tasks between sessions themselves that will bring about change
IPT Therapy
The IPT approach is divided into 3 phases. The initial phase, usually 1-3 sessions includes history and evaluation and setting the framework for treatment.
The second phase or intermediate phase can be anything between 6 - 12 sessions. This phase concentrates on working on the interpersonal problems.
The final phase of IPT or termination phase usually 2-3 sessions is the last few weeks of treatment consolidating therapeutic gains and developing ways of identifying and countering symptoms should they arise in the future.
Treatment contract
The therapist needs the patient’s explicit agreement to work on the interpersonal problem area in order to proceed.
Sessions may be tape recorded for the purpose of supervision or treatment adherence monitoring. In this case only supervisors or treatment monitors will have access to the recordings, which will be kept locked and anonymously coded.
Summary
• Treatment focuses on current interpersonal problems
• It is a short–term treatment usually three to five months
• Fixed number of sessions 12—20 although there can be a slight variation
• Therapist is active not directive patient makes their own discoveries
• There is a pressure to change action is needed in order to learn more about problems in the attempt to change
