In the Aftermath of the Pandemic: Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Anxiety, Depression, and PTSD

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is an empirically validated treatment for affective, anxiety, and eating disorders. IPT rests on attachment theory and posits that individuals become distressed when they have interpersonal problems, conceptualized in IPT as transitions, interpersonal disputes, or grief and loss issues. IPT is short term, with a typical dosing range of six to 20 sessions followed by maintenance treatment to reduce the risk of relapse. Dissemination of IPT has greatly increased over the last decade, with several large-scale efforts in public health settings in the United States and abroad. We review the basics of IPT for depression and anxiety. We also describe its application to groups and adolescents. Recently developed clinical tools that have enhanced the delivery of IPT and have increased fidelity are described. Opportunities for training in IPT are also reviewed. This review contains 10 figures, 1 table, and 71 references. Key words: adolescents, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, group therapy, interpersonal inventory, interpersonal psychotherapy, interpersonal summary, maintenance psychotherapy, posttraumatic stress disorder

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Introduction

In the Aftermath of the Pandemic ◽

10.1093/med-psych/9780197554500.003.0001 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

John C. Markowitz

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Life Events ◽

Interpersonal Psychotherapy ◽

Psychological Consequences ◽

Life Changes ◽

Major Life ◽

Interpersonal Therapy ◽

Life Event ◽

Event Based ◽

Anxiety Depression

The introduction sets the stage for the book to follow: it describes the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic; the losses, risks, and life changes it is entailing; and their psychological consequences. A crisis evokes strong, distressing feelings and symptoms. The introduction presents interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), a proven, time-limited treatment for mood, anxiety, and posttraumatic disorders, as likely to be a helpful response to this crisis. IPT is a life event–based therapy for symptoms due to an overwhelming global series of life events. The brief introduction alerts the reader to the main psychiatric consequences of major life disruption and trauma: anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress, which succeeding chapters will cover. It describes the forced switch to tele-psychotherapy and provides a rationale for why interpersonal therapy is likely to benefit many people sustaining these losses.

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Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Mindfulness for Treatment of Major Depression With Anxious Distress

Clinical Case Studies ◽

10.1177/1534650118756530 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 104-119 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rebecca M. Mahan ◽

Scott A. Swan ◽

Jenny Macfie

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Interpersonal Relations ◽

Single Case ◽

Skills Training ◽

Interpersonal Psychotherapy ◽

Reliable Change Index ◽

Female College Student ◽

Mindfulness Skills ◽

Anxiety Depression

This single case study examined symptom change in the treatment of a 22-year-old Caucasian female college student presenting with anxious and depressive symptoms and maladaptive coping strategies in the context of an interpersonal dispute. The treatment integrated mindfulness skills training with interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) to treat symptoms of anxiety, depression, overall total symptoms, and relational problems across the 18-session treatment. We assessed symptoms across treatment and analyzed change in symptom severity over time. Reliable change index analyses indicated significant symptom reduction between baseline levels at the start of treatment and the final sessions in all measured symptoms (anxiety, depression, total symptoms, and interpersonal relations), with decreases in symptom severity occurring gradually over the course of treatment. A 1-month follow-up assessment of symptoms indicated sustained reductions in anxious and depressive symptoms since baseline measurements. We discuss recommendations on the importance of therapeutic flexibility in treating comorbid conditions and therapist willingness to combine multiple treatment approaches for better treatment outcomes.

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Anxiety, depression and stressful life events among medical students: a prospective study in Antalya, Turkey

Medical Education ◽

10.1046/j.1365-2923.2001.00726.x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 12-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 146

Author(s):

Mehmet Aktekin ◽

Taha Karaman ◽

Yesim Yigiter Senol ◽

Sukru Erdem ◽

Hakan Erengin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Prospective Study ◽

Life Events ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Stressful Life ◽

A Prospective Study ◽

Anxiety Depression

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Teen Cannabis Use Tied to Adult Anxiety, Depression

Pediatric News ◽

10.1016/s0031-398x(07)70254-0 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

pp. 41

Author(s):

HEIDI SPLETE

Keyword(s):

Cannabis Use ◽

Anxiety Depression

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Skin Conductance and Subjective Arousal in Anxiety, Depression, and Comorbidity

Journal of Psychophysiology ◽

10.1027/0269-8803/a000176 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 145-157 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Laina E. Rosebrock ◽

Denada Hoxha ◽

Catherine Norris ◽

John T. Cacioppo ◽

Jackie K. Gollan

Keyword(s):

Skin Conductance ◽

Comparison Group ◽

Group Differences ◽

Autonomic Arousal ◽

Emotional Picture ◽

Self Reports ◽

Picture Viewing ◽

Anxiety Depression ◽

Subjective Arousal ◽

Healthy Participants

Abstract. Skin conductance (SC), an autonomic arousal measure of the sympathetic nervous system, is a sensitive and useful index of physiological arousal. However, SC data does not always align with self-reports of arousal. SC, self-reported arousal, and their association, known as emotion coherence, may be altered with the presence of major psychiatric illness. This study investigated group differences on SC reactivity and self-reported arousal while viewing positive, negative, neutral, and threat images between participants diagnosed with major depression with and without anxiety disorders relative to a healthy comparison group. Additionally, the strength and direction of association between SC reactivity and arousal ratings (emotion coherence) was examined within groups. Unmedicated participants were recruited via online and paper advertisements around Chicago and categorized into one of four groups (Depressed: n = 35, Anxious: n = 44, Comorbid: n = 38, Healthy: n = 29). SC and affect ratings were collected during and after a standardized emotional picture viewing task. SC reactivity was significantly higher during threat images, regardless of group. During threat image presentation, increased SC reactivity occurred during the last few seconds before picture offset; for all other stimulus types, SC reactivity decreased significantly after picture offset. Anxious and comorbid participants rated emotional images as more arousing than healthy participants; there were no observed differences in arousal ratings between depressed and healthy participants. Heightened reactivity in anxiety may manifest in arousal ratings without corresponding increased SC reactivity to emotional images. Results do not suggest underlying altered psychophysiology in this sample of depressed or anxious participants.

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