The Efficacy of Adapted Interpersonal Psychotherapy in the Context of COVID-19 on Individuals' Depression, Epidemic Anxiety, and Life Satisfaction Levels

Objective: This study examines the effectiveness of an adapted interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) model for acute crisis in reducing depression and anxiety symptoms among individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 33 participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n = 16), which received an eight-week online psychotherapy program, or a control group (n = 17), which participated in weekly check-ins without structured therapy. Psychological distress was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Epidemic Disease Anxiety Scale at pretest and posttest. Between-group differences were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and independent sample t-tests, depending on the distribution of the data. Results: The intervention group showed slight reductions in depression and anxiety scores; however, these changes were not statistically significant compared to the control group. No significant differences were found between groups in pretest or posttest scores for any of the psychological measures (p > 0.05). The findings suggest that interpersonal psychotherapy, even when adapted for crisis conditions, may have limited effectiveness in addressing pandemic-related distress. Conclusion: The results highlight the challenges of implementing psychotherapy during large-scale public health emergencies. The prolonged and multifaceted nature of pandemic-related distress, the online delivery format, and the role of broader socio-economic stressors may have contributed to the intervention’s limited impact. Future research should explore alternative intervention models, long-term treatment effects, and the optimal timing for psychological support during crises. Developing integrated, multimodal approaches that address both psychological and environmental stressors will be critical in enhancing mental health care in crisis settings.