STATE-OF-THE-ART IN INTERPERSONAL PSYCHOT HERAPY

An overview of the state of the art in Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IP T) of depression is given. Since IPT is a standardized, efficient, and economical therapy form, it is anticipated that IPT will gain increas ing importance in Germany in the field of psychiatry/psychotherapy. It can be learned by experienced psychotherapists, regardless of their p sychotherapeutic orientation, in a standardized training program in a relatively short time. IPT is a short-term psychotherapy designed spec ifically for the treatment of depression which was developed by Klerma n and Weissman at the end of the sixties. It is based on the observati on that depressive disorders usually occur in a psychosocial and inter personal context. The focus of this psychotherapeutic procedure is the refore on dealing with the patients' psychosocial and interpersonal co nflicts. The present article describes the use of IPT as well as its t heoretical and empirical background. In addition the educational progr am in IPT is described and a comparison with other psychotherapies is given. Finally the article summarizes efficacy studies and derivative forms of IPT.