Stages of Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Stages of Interpersonal Psychotherapy
A Flexible Approach
Interpersonal Psychotherapy employs a flexible structure, moving through three main phases. In doing so, it specifies particular goals for each stage and proposes a range of strategies by which the therapist may achieve these.
The first phase of IPT constitutes assessment, giving particular attention to both the collaborative diagnosis of depression and developing an understanding of the interpersonal context. The overlap between symptomatic and interpersonal experience guides the decision on treatment focus, with four choices available - interpersonal dispute, interpersonal role transitions, grief and interpersonal deficits. The second stage takes on the negotiated focus as the guide, working to alleviate symptomatic experience through the resolution of the primary area of interpersonal difficulty. The final stage of IPT specifically addresses issues of termination.
The first phase of IPT constitutes assessment, giving particular attention to both the collaborative diagnosis of depression and developing an understanding of the interpersonal context. The overlap between symptomatic and interpersonal experience guides the decision on treatment focus, with four choices available - interpersonal dispute, interpersonal role transitions, grief and interpersonal deficits. The second stage takes on the negotiated focus as the guide, working to alleviate symptomatic experience through the resolution of the primary area of interpersonal difficulty. The final stage of IPT specifically addresses issues of termination.
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Initial Sessions (1-4)
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The first four sessions of IPT constitute the assessment phase. The tasks for this phase include the following: taking a thorough psychiatric history; making an explicit diagnostic evaluation with reference to recognised criteria (i.e. DSM-IV or ICD-10); engaging the patient in the sick role (Parsons, 1951), which brings with it responsibility to work towards recovery; conducting a detailed review of the patient's interpersonal context; and establishing an interpersonal focus for treatment, based on the interconnections apparent between the other factors. Particular attention is given to interpersonal changes occurring proximal to the onset of symptoms to establish this focus.
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Middle Sessions (5-12)
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During the middle sessions, the task is to help the patient discuss the weekly experiences that are related to the identified interpersonal area for work. The therapist helps the patient to link the weekly onset of symptoms to the interpersonal context or vice versa, clarify the issues and themes that emerge, and attend to the associated emotional experience.
These sessions open with a general question about how the patient has been since the last meeting (i.e. focusing the patient on here-and-now concerns and events), and strategies are selected and implemented as appropriate to the stage of therapy, and the experiences of the week. Patients are helped to understand their experiences within the focus framework, and to consider and ultimately attempt alternative responses which may disentangle their relationships from their depressive symptoms. The IPT model sets out specific goals for each of the focus areas and strategies, whereby these may be achieved. These provide a guide to the therapist during the middle sessions.
With each problem area, the sequence of movement in therapy is: first, general exploration of the problem; second, focusing on the patient' expectations and perceptions; third, analysis of possible alternative ways to handle the problem area; and finally, attempt at new behaviour (Klerman et al, 1984).
These sessions open with a general question about how the patient has been since the last meeting (i.e. focusing the patient on here-and-now concerns and events), and strategies are selected and implemented as appropriate to the stage of therapy, and the experiences of the week. Patients are helped to understand their experiences within the focus framework, and to consider and ultimately attempt alternative responses which may disentangle their relationships from their depressive symptoms. The IPT model sets out specific goals for each of the focus areas and strategies, whereby these may be achieved. These provide a guide to the therapist during the middle sessions.
With each problem area, the sequence of movement in therapy is: first, general exploration of the problem; second, focusing on the patient' expectations and perceptions; third, analysis of possible alternative ways to handle the problem area; and finally, attempt at new behaviour (Klerman et al, 1984).
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Final Sessions (13-16): Termination
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As the IPT sessions draw to a conclusion, increasing attention is given to the end of the therapy relationship and relapse prevention. Although this is identified as a distinct phase of therapy, the work of the termination sessions overlaps with the final work of the middle sessions. In addition, the issue of termination is one that will have received attention throughout therapy as the time limit on contact would have been specifically negotiated in the early sessions. The number of remaining sessions would also have been counted down each week, helping both the therapist and patient to maintain an awareness of the time remaining.
Research has repeatedly indicated that the effects of IPT are increasingly demonstrated in the months after therapy has stopped, and so it is important to help the patient to independently continue the work initiated during the sessions. The maintenance model of IPT was developed to help those patients who had responded to the acute intervention, but were at risk of recurrence of depressive symptoms, to consolidate and maintain their therapy gains by continuing to attend monthly IPT sessions following the acute treatment phase.
Research has repeatedly indicated that the effects of IPT are increasingly demonstrated in the months after therapy has stopped, and so it is important to help the patient to independently continue the work initiated during the sessions. The maintenance model of IPT was developed to help those patients who had responded to the acute intervention, but were at risk of recurrence of depressive symptoms, to consolidate and maintain their therapy gains by continuing to attend monthly IPT sessions following the acute treatment phase.
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