Interpersonal Therapy
IPT has a 'here and now' focus to help people resolve some of the immediate problems in their interpersonal relationships. IPT assists in the improvement of interpersonal relationships by strengthening communication skills and self-esteem.
Interpersonal therapy is directed at assisting with:
- grief after the death of someone close;
- difficulty during a role transition period, e.g. starting a new job, becoming a parent;
- resolving interpersonal disagreements or disputes; and
- building communication skills.
The goal of IPT is to reduce difficulties in interpersonal relationships and to build new skills, which can create positive and useful communication with others. Relationships are seen as the main area of change, which in turn, can then produce improvements in other areas such as mood and motivation.
IPT was originally designed for the treatment of depression. Since its inception, however, it has been extended to treat people with eating disorders (e.g. anorexia nervosa). IPT can be used to treat individuals with psychological difficulties whenever interpersonal difficulties are part of the problem. The focus of IPT is always on interpersonal relationships as the vehicle for change.
IPT alone can be of assistance to patients, however, at other times it may be used as a second line of treatment after a physical treatment such as medication has been introduced, or as an adjunct to medication.
Yes, it is not necessary to stop taking medication to do IPT. The two can work hand-in-hand.
New skills take time, effort and practise to master, and IPT is no different. Some people find that interpersonal therapy is easier than Cognitive Brief Therapy (i.e. CBT - the patient records and modifies his/her thoughts), however, it is not a 'quick fix'. Interpersonal therapy requires commitment and consistent work, including homework, to be successful.