Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Interpersonal Therapy Research

Interpersonal therapy research is the systematic investigation of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), a structured, time-limited, evidence-based treatment that addresses psychological distress by focusing on current relationships and social functioning rather than on intrapsychic conflict or unconscious processes. IP…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 7 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 39× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2574-612X 🗓 Reviewed June 2026

Overview

Interpersonal therapy research is the systematic investigation of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), a structured, time-limited, evidence-based treatment that addresses psychological distress by focusing on current relationships and social functioning rather than on intrapsychic conflict or unconscious processes. IPT rests on the premise that the onset and maintenance of disorders such as depression are closely tied to the interpersonal context, and it organises treatment around defined problem areas, typically grief and complicated bereavement, role transitions, interpersonal role disputes, and interpersonal deficits or social isolation. Within a clearly bounded course, therapist and patient link mood and symptoms to relational events and work to improve communication, clarify expectations, mobilise social support, and resolve specific difficulties. Research in this field spans randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews establishing efficacy across conditions including major depression, mood and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and perinatal depression; studies of mechanisms of change and the role of the therapeutic relationship; and adaptations for different populations, formats, and delivery settings, including group and maintenance forms and applications in medically ill patients. Comparative and process work situates IPT among other empirically supported psychotherapies, examining common factors such as therapeutic presence and meaning-making alongside its distinctive interpersonal focus. The evidence base guides clinical practice, training, and the refinement of IPT protocols for diverse disorders and contexts.

Research published in this journal

7 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

2018

Dissociative Amnesia – A Challenge to Therapy  

Staniloiu AngelicaCorresponding author
University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
International Journal of Psychotherapy Practice and Research Cited by 30 doi:10.14302/issn.2574-612X.ijpr-18-2246

How this research is being cited

The 7 articles above have been cited 39 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Interpersonal Therapy Research, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in International Journal of Psychotherapy Practice and Research (ISSN 2574-612X).

Journal editorial board
Karim Sedky · United States Tullio Scrimali · Italy DAMIANA SCUTERI · Italy

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.