Interpersonal psychotherapy

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is a time-limited psychotherapy that was developed in the 1970s and 80s as an outpatient treatment for adults who were diagnosed with moderate or severe non-delusional depression. It has its roots in the interpersonal theory of psychiatry of Harry Stack Sullivan. Over the last 30 years, a number of empirical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of IPT in the treatment of depression. Although originally developed as an individual therapy for adults, IPT has been modified for use with adolescents and older adults, bipolar disorder, bulimia, post-partum depression and couples counseling; and although IPT has its roots in psychodynamic theory, it takes its cues from contemporary cognitive behavioral approaches both in that it is time-limited and also in its use of homework, structured interviews and assessment tools.

Interpersonal therapy was first developed as a theoretical placebo for the use in psychotherapy research by Gerald Klerman, et al. IPT was, however, found to be quite effective in the treatment of several psychological problems.

IPT is based on the belief that psychological problems are due to communication problems, which are formed due to attachment styles.