IPT
Core Mechanism
Improving interpersonal functioning in one of four problem areas (grief, disputes, transitions, deficits) alleviates depression
Ontology
Depression occurs in an interpersonal context; improving relationships and social roles improves mood
Therapeutic Voice
"It sounds like this grief hasn't had a place to go since your mother died. Let's make room for it here."
View of the Person
A social being whose depression occurs in and is maintained by interpersonal context
Evidence
NICE: recommended for depression. APA: Strong. WHO: recommended
80+ RCTs
Cuijpers et al. (2011, 2016)
Very strong evidence — alongside CBT, one of two most-supported treatments for depression.
Conditions
Epistemology
Blind Spots
Focused scope (4 problem areas) may miss broader personality patterns; less suited for complex or chronic presentations
Contraindications
Active psychosis, severe personality disorders requiring longer-term treatment, situations where interpersonal focus does not match the primary clinical presentation (e.g., OCD)
Training
IPT training workshop (2-3 days) + supervised cases. Well-manualized
ISIPT offers certification
16-24 hrs + supervised cases
$1K-3K
Equity & Cultural Adaptations
Philosophical Roots
Sullivan (interpersonal psychiatry — personality is the pattern of interpersonal situations); Meyer (psychobiology); Durkheim (social integration and anomie); Bowlby (attachment/loss)
Related Modalities
Clinical Vignettes
See how IPT formulates these cases:
Test Yourself
IPT's four problem areas?
Show answer
Complicated grief, role disputes, role transitions, interpersonal deficits.