Interpersonal Psychotherapy: Past, Present and Future

The authors briefly describe the origins, theory, and development of interpersonal psychotherapy: its roots in clinical outcome research, its spread from major depression to other psychiatric disorders and its increasing dissemination as an empirically validated clinical intervention included in treatment guidelines. They attempt to forecast research, organizational and training issues the growing interpersonal psychotherapy community may face in the future. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message Multiple randomized controlled trials have shown that IPT effectively treats mood disorders, bulimia, and possibly other disorders in multiple randomized controlled trials. Time‐limited treatment. Focuses on the relationship between mood and social circumstance. Improves social functioning while relieving symptoms. Builds social support, a crucial factor in many psychiatric disorders.