IPT is a time-limited course of treatment for depression and other mental disorders, which strengthens relationships and social supports in order to improve an individual’s mood and functioning. IPT generally lasts 12–16 weeks, with the timeframe agreed upon by therapist and client at the beginning of the treatment (International Society of Interpersonal Psychotherapy, 2019).

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Communication Analysis is a structured method of examining the hypothesis that a person’s difficulties are being caused and made worse by poor communication. The goals for communication analysis are to help identify an individual’s communication patterns, recognize their contribution to the communication breakdown, and to help them communicate more effectively. 

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Interpersonal Inventory is a register of the patient’s key current relationships. It is a unique feature of IPT that structures the process of history gathering and formulation of interpersonal problem areas and provides a reference point for conducting IPT. These problems are further characterized within one of the four interpersonal problem areas: interpersonal disputes, role transitions, grief and loss, and interpersonal sensitivities (or deficits). The Interpersonal Formulation is a way to addresses several questions: How did the patient come to be the way he or she is? What factors are maintaining the problem? What can be done about it? The formulation emphasizes both the interpersonal factors involved in the origin and context of the problem, as well as how IPT will help the patient overcome his or her symptoms. It is therefore a pivotal part of IPT, as the successful collaboration between client and therapist, to construct a valid formulation that “sets the scene” for the conduct of treatment. 

 

Role Playing is a technique in which a client and therapist create, in session, an interaction in that will reinforce behavioral change outside of therapy. While role playing, the client’s communication style and emotional responses can be examined in detail, and more effective communications styles can be discussed, modeled, and practiced (Weissman, Markowitz & Klerman, 2018).