BACKGROUND: Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) has long been viewed as an efficacious treatment for depression, with a large number of published studies allowing its efficacy and utility to be considered closely. METHODS: We review original studies and the one published meta-analysis of controlled efficacy trials, examining acute-phase and prophylactic studies, comparison studies with cognitive behaviour therapy, and studies evaluating its efficacy in combination with pharmacotherapy. RESULTS: We highlight difficulties in evaluating any psychotherapy, particularly when tested as having universal application for varying depressive conditions, but do identify circumstances where IPT may have specific salience. CONCLUSIONS: As for other treatments, IPT is unlikely to be a universal therapy for depression. This review offers suggestions as to where its preferential utility may lie, and argues for modified research paradigms to assist definition of its therapeutic niche.
BACKGROUND: Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) has long been viewed as an efficacious treatment for depression, with a large number of published studies allowing its efficacy and utility to be considered closely. METHODS: We review original studies and the one published meta-analysis of controlled efficacy trials, examining acute-phase and prophylactic studies, comparison studies with cognitive behaviour therapy, and studies evaluating its efficacy in combination with pharmacotherapy. RESULTS: We highlight difficulties in evaluating any psychotherapy, particularly when tested as having universal application for varying depressive conditions, but do identify circumstances where IPT may have specific salience. CONCLUSIONS: As for other treatments, IPT is unlikely to be a universal therapy for depression. This review offers suggestions as to where its preferential utility may lie, and argues for modified research paradigms to assist definition of its therapeutic niche.
Authors: J C Levenson; E Frank; Y Cheng; P Rucci; C A Janney; P Houck; R N Forgione; H A Swartz; J M Cyranowski; A Fagiolini Journal: Depress Anxiety Date: 2010-05 Impact factor: 6.505
Authors: Thomas C Baghai; Pierre Blier; David S Baldwin; Michael Bauer; Guy M Goodwin; Kostas N Fountoulakis; Siegfried Kasper; Brian E Leonard; Ulrik F Malt; Dan Stein; Marcio Versiani; Hans-Jürgen Möller Journal: Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Date: 2011-11 Impact factor: 5.270
Authors: Thomas C Baghai; Pierre Blier; David S Baldwin; Michael Bauer; Guy M Goodwin; Kostas N Fountoulakis; Siegfried Kasper; Brian E Leonard; Ulrik F Malt; Dan J Stein; Marcio Versiani; Hans-Jürgen Möller Journal: Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Date: 2011-11-15 Impact factor: 5.270
Authors: Lotte H J M Lemmens; Arnoud Arntz; Frenk P M L Peeters; Steven D Hollon; Anne Roefs; Marcus J H Huibers Journal: Trials Date: 2011-06-14 Impact factor: 2.279