Interpersoonlijke psychotherapie

Interpersonal psychotherapy, or IPT, is an insight-based therapy focusing on the relationship between an individual's mood and their interpersonal interactions.

The approach is rooted in the interpersonal theories of Adolph Meyer and Harry Stack Sullivan, as well as John Bowlby's attachment theory.

IPT emphasizes the importance of interpersonal relationships in emotional well-being and aims to address social skills and help individuals manage interpersonal conflicts, such as family disputes, and life transitions, like childbirth or retirement.

The therapy is a short-term intervention, typically lasting 12 to 16 sessions, and is a collaborative undertaking between the therapist and the client, where the therapist acts as a participant observer.

Originally developed as a treatment for depression, IPT has shown effectiveness in addressing other conditions, including substance abuse and eating disorders.

Research supports IPT's efficacy in treating depression, especially when combined with medication.

Although influenced by psychodynamic thought, IPT incorporates aspects of humanistic and cognitive-behavioral therapies, making it an eclectic therapeutic approach.