Interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents (IPT-A): An overview

Abstract

This paper reviews the main principles of Interpersonal Psychotherapy and its adaptation for depressed adolescents (IPT-A). The work of IPT-A is put in the context of the significant problem of depression in adolescence and the other treatments and their efficacy in the treatment of adolescent depression. The paper also provides an overview of the approach and specific techniques to be used with adolescents. The efficacy and effectiveness data on IPT-A are presented briefly. IPT-A is an empirically supported psychotherapy for depressed, non-bipolar and non-psychotic adolescents. IPT-A is unique among evidence-based treatments in its demonstrated effectiveness when transported from a laboratory setting to a community setting (school-based health clinics) and delivered by community clinicians. Future studies are needed with other populations that include long-term follow-up of outcomes and are conducted by other investigator teams.