Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy

Stuart, Scott

doi: 10.1007/s10879-007-9063-zpmid: N/A

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is an empirically validated treatment for a number of psychiatric disorders. Like all psychotherapies, IPT can be described by its theoretical foundations and its primary targets, tactics, and techniques. The need for continued creativity in IPT and other treatments is reviewed, and several specific proposals for change in IPT based on clinical observations and theoretical considerations are discussed. A paradigm for collaboration between academic research and clinical observation required for continued creativity is offered. Change is inevitable, and the empirically validated therapies such as IPT will be even more effective as they incorporate and test new and creative elements.

Ravitz, Paula; Maunder, Robert; McBride, Carolina

doi: 10.1007/s10879-007-9064-ypmid: N/A

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is an effective, pragmatic treatment for depression but interpersonal explanations of its effectiveness are not fully developed. This paper presents an integration of aspects of attachment theory and contemporary interpersonal theory which explains how interpersonal interactions contribute to a clinical understanding of depression and its treatment through IPT. We test hypotheses of interpersonal change in a case series of depressed patients treated with IPT. The results demonstrate that both attachment insecurity and interpersonal problems improve significantly over a 16 week course of treatment. Further research into the interpersonal processes that alleviate depression is needed.

Grote, Nancy; Swartz, Holly; Zuckoff, Allan

doi: 10.1007/s10879-007-9065-xpmid: 21822328

Intervening with depressed women during their childbearing years, especially with those on low incomes, is critically important. Not only do mothers and expectant mothers suffer unnecessarily, but their untreated depression has critical negative consequences for their families. Despite this, these women have proven especially difficult to engage in psychotherapy. In this paper we describe several adaptations and additions we have made to a brief form of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) to meet the needs of mothers and expectant mothers living on low incomes in the community who suffer from depression, but face significant practical, psychological, and cultural barriers to engaging in and staying in treatment. In addition, we present some preliminary data on the extent to which our enhanced, brief IPT approach promotes improvements in treatment engagement and retention relative to usual care for expectant mothers on low incomes.

Talbot, Nancy; Gamble, Stephanie

doi: 10.1007/s10879-007-9066-9pmid: N/A

Many women in community mental health care have interpersonal trauma histories and chronic, complex depression. Despite the profound treatment needs of this population, there are few treatment studies or descriptions to guide effective practice. In this paper, we describe an adaptation of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) that we have tested among depressed women with sexual abuse histories. IPT-Trauma in Community Settings (IPT-TCS) is IPT with modifications specifically designed for its transport to depressed patients with interpersonal trauma histories in community settings. Modifications include an expanded treatment duration, engagement analysis, sociocultural formulation, and interpersonal-patterns problem area. IPT-TCS modifications are described with case examples.

Stuart, Scott; Noyes, Russell; Starcevic, Vladan; Barsky, Arthur

doi: 10.1007/s10879-007-9067-8pmid: N/A

Data regarding the treatment of somatoform disorders suggest that the gains associated with current psychopharmacologic or psychotherapeutic treatments are modest at best. There have been a few moderately effective treatments for selected functional somatic syndromes, but patients who present with multi-system symptoms meeting criteria for the DSM-IV somatoform disorders are notoriously unresponsive to treatment. Experts in the field have advocated several approaches, including interpersonally oriented and cognitive-behavioral therapies, and have emphasized the importance of the provision of reassurance within the doctor-patient relationship. While each individual approach has merit, none is likely to be maximally efficacious as a stand-alone treatment. In this article we describe the theoretical underpinnings and technical aspects of a treatment for somatizing patients that integrates these three elements.