Cost-effectiveness of train-the-trainer versus expert consultation training models for implementing interpersonal psychotherapy in college mental health settings: evidence from a national cluster randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: This study is a cost-effectiveness study of two implementation strategies designed to train therapists in college and university counseling centers to deliver interpersonal psychotherapy. Costs of implementing a train-the-trainer (TTT) strategy versus an expert consultation strategy were estimated, and their relative effects upon therapist outcomes were calculated and compared. METHODS: Twenty four counseling centers were recruited across the United States. These centers were randomized to either a TTT (experimental) condition, in which an in-house therapist trained other center therapists, or an expert consultation condition, in which center therapists participated in a workshop and received 12 months of ongoing supervision. The main outcome was therapist fidelity (adherence and competence) to interpersonal psychotherapy, assessed via audio recordings of therapy sessions, and analyzed using linear mixed models. Costs of each condition were quantified using time-driven activity-based costing methods, and involved a costing survey administered to center directors, follow up interviews and validation checks, and comparison of time tracking logs of trainers in the expert condition. Mean costs to produce one therapist were obtained for each condition. The costs to produce equivalent improvements in therapist-level outcomes were then compared between the two conditions. RESULTS: Mean cost incurred by counseling centers to train one therapist using the TTT strategy was $3,407 (median = $3,077); mean cost to produce one trained therapist in the control condition was $2,055 (median = $1,932). Therapists in the TTT condition, on average, demonstrated a 0.043 higher adherence score compared to therapists in the control condition; however, this difference was not statistically significant. For the competence outcome, effect size for therapists in the TTT condition was in the large range (1.16; 95% CI: 0.85-1.46; p < .001), and therapists in this condition, on average, demonstrated a 0.073 higher competence score compared to those in the expert consultation condition (95% CI, 0.008-0.14; p = .03). Counseling centers that used the TTT model incurred $353 less in training costs to produce equivalent improvements in therapist competence. CONCLUSIONS: Despite its higher short run costs, the TTT implementation strategy produces greater increases in therapist competence when compared to expert consultation. Expanding resources to support this platform for service delivery can be an effective way to enhance the mental health care of young people seeking care in college and university counseling centers. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02079142.

Psychosocial interventions for depression among young people in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Depression among young people is a global health problem due to its rising prevalence and negative physical and social outcomes. The prevalence of depression and the treatment gap among young people in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is higher than global estimates. Most psychosocial interventions for adolescent and youth depression were developed in high-income countries and less is known about their effectiveness in SSA. Due to contextual differences, findings from High-Income Countries (HICs) are less applicable to SSA. Yet, no systematic review of psychosocial interventions for depression among young people in SSA has been conducted. METHODS: A systematic literature search of four databases (Medline, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Cochrane library) was conducted. Experimental studies published before May 2024 that evaluated the effect of psychosocial interventions on depressive symptoms among young people (aged 10-24 years) in SSA were included in the systematic review. Effect sizes (Hedge's g (g)) indicating differences between intervention and control groups were calculated using a random effects model. RESULTS: Twenty-two eligible studies were identified for the systematic review, of which eighteen randomized control trials (RCTs) involving 2338 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The findings revealed that psychosocial interventions significantly reduced depressive symptoms (g = -1.55, 95% CI -2.48, -0.63), although heterogeneity was high (I2 = 98.8%). Subgroup analysis revealed that efficacy differed significantly by intervention type, with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (9 studies) showing the strongest effect (g = -2.84, 95% CI -4.29; -1.38). While Wise Interventions (a form of positive psychology interventions; 2 studies) had a moderate effect (g = -0.46, 95% C.I -0.53, -0.39), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (2 studies; g = -0.08, 95% CI -1.05, 0.88) and Creative Psychological Interventions (3 studies; g = -0.29, 95% CI -1.38, 0.79) showed smaller, non-significant effects. Sensitivity analysis excluding studies at high risk of bias strengthened the effect size. Few studies assessed factors affecting intervention efficacy and showed mixed effects of age, gender, and adherence levels. CONCLUSION: Psychosocial interventions, particularly CBT, significantly reduced depressive symptoms among young people in SSA. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the high heterogeneity which likely stems from variations in study populations and intervention delivery modalities. This highlights the need for further research to identify the specific intervention components and delivery methods that work best for distinct subpopulations. Future research should also explore how long intervention effects are maintained and factors affecting efficacy.

Adaptations of interpersonal psychotherapy in psycho-oncology and its effects on distress, depression, and anxiety in patients with cancer: a systematic review.

Objective: Patients with cancer experience significant psychosocial distress. Stressors include interpersonal difficulties like loneliness, isolation, thwarted belongingness, communication impediments, and conflicts. Interventions are required that address their specific psychosocial needs. Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is a promising concept for the treatment of psychosocial distress associated with cancer because it addresses patients' interactions and role transformations. This review aims to provide an overview of the current evidence regarding interventions for patients with cancer based on IPT. Methods: A systematic review following PRISM guidelines was conducted, including randomized controlled trials of IPT-based interventions in patients with cancer, assessing effects on distress, depression, and anxiety. Results: Eight studies were included, sampling 390 patients in total. Seven out of eight studies assessed exclusively women with breast cancer. Two studies described IPT interventions and showed stronger improvement in depression and anxiety compared to TAU and equal improvement in depression compared to other psychotherapy interventions. Six studies described remote Interpersonal Counselling (IPC). One found remote IPC to be superior to control conditions regarding depression, and one found remote IPC to be superior to attention control, but not active control conditions. No study found remote IPC to be superior to control conditions regarding distress. Discussion: There are few randomized controlled trials of IPT for patients with cancer. Results regarding depression and anxiety are promising for in-person IPT, but mixed for remote IPC. Conclusion: The review suggests in-person IPT, but not remote IPC, may yield benefits for patients with cancer. Research on the subject is scarce, and to inform implementation of IPT interventions, research with diverse groups of patients with cancer is required. Systematic trial registration: PROSPERO, Identifier CRD42023410687.

Remote family education and support program for parents of patients with adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders based on interpersonal psychotherapy: study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In cases of adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders, despite the importance of the patients' relationship with their parents, conflict and confusion frequently occur among them. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a present-focused psychotherapy that emphasizes the interpersonal context of symptoms. We developed a remote family education and support program exclusively for parents of patients with eating disorders, based on the principle of IPT. The use of IPT is expected to reduce conflicts in the patient-parent relationship. Consequently, parents will be better able to listen to patients, and patients will be better able to express their thoughts and desires. In this study, we describe the protocol for a randomized controlled trial designed to examine the effectiveness of this program in promoting effective communication in their home based on active listening skills of parents of patients with adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders. METHODS: Participants will be parents of patients aged 12-29 years with adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders. Individually randomized, parallel-group trial design will be employed. Seventy participants will be allocated to one of two treatment conditions: (1) remote family education and support program (four, 150 min weekly group sessions) for parents plus treatment-as-usual for patients (consultation by physicians or no treatment), or (2) waiting for the control condition (parents will wait to start the program for 8 weeks) plus treatment-as-usual for patients. The primary outcome measure will be parents' active listening ability as measured by the Active Listening Attitude Scale at 8 weeks after randomization. Additionally, perception of social support (Social Provision Scale-10 item), loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale), mental health status (K6), family function (Family Assessment Device), and parent-evaluated eating disorder symptoms (Anorectic Behavior Observation Scale) will be assessed. Data from the intention-to-treat sample will be analyzed 8 weeks after randomization. DISCUSSION: This is the first study to evaluate the effectiveness of a family education and support program for parents of patients with adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders based on IPT. If this type of intervention is effective, although indirect, it could be a new support method for this patient population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials. gov ID NCT05840614.

For patients with adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders, although the relationship with their parents is an important interpersonal dynamic, conflicts and confusion often arise between patients and their parents. On the other hand, parents who live with individuals with eating disorders are frequently involved in interpersonal disputes, leading to a heavy psychological burden and elevated levels of depression and anxiety. It has been found that highly depressed or anxious parents tend to have difficulty listening carefully to their patients. Additionally, parental anxiety often promotes an overprotective response. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a present-focused psychotherapy that emphasizes the interpersonal context of symptoms. In IPT, the patient and therapist work within interpersonal therapeutic domains, such as interpersonal role disputes with different expectations and role transitions. We developed a remote family education and support program exclusively for parents of patients with eating disorders based on IPT principles. In the present study, we describe the protocol for a randomized controlled trial designed to examine the effectiveness of this program in promoting effective communication within their homes, focusing on the active listening skills of parents of patients with adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders.

A pilot study evaluating online training for therapist delivery of interpersonal psychotherapy for eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Individuals with eating disorders (EDs) often do not receive evidence-based care, such as interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), partly due to lack of accessible training in these treatments. The standard method of training (i.e., in-person workshops) is expensive and time consuming, prompting a need for more scalable training tools. The primary aim of this pilot and open trial was to examine the effects of an IPT online training platform on training outcomes (i.e., IPT fidelity, knowledge, and acceptance) and, secondarily, whether online training was different from in-person training (using a comparative sample from a separate study) in terms of training outcomes and patient symptoms. METHOD: Participants were therapists (N = 60) and student patients (N = 42) at 38 college counseling centers. Therapists completed baseline questionnaires and collected data from a student patient with ED symptoms. Therapists then participated in an IPT online training program and completed post-training assessments. RESULTS: Following online training, acceptance of evidence-based treatments, therapist knowledge of IPT, therapist acceptance of IPT, and treatment fidelity increased; acceptance of online training was high at baseline and remained stable after training. Using the 90% confidence interval on outcome effect sizes, results suggested IPT online training was not different from in-person training on most outcomes. Results are based on 60% of therapists who originally enrolled due to high dropout rate of therapist participants. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this preliminary pilot study support the use of IPT online training, which could increase access to evidence-based ED treatment and improve patient care. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Lack of accessible therapist training has contributed to many therapists not delivering, and therefore many patients not receiving, evidence-based treatment. This study evaluated a highly disseminable online training and compared outcomes to traditional in-person training and found that training and patient outcomes were not different. Online training has the potential to enhance access to evidence-base care, which could in turn optimize patient outcomes.

Effects of Therapeutic Alliance in Interpersonal Psychotherapy Among Adolescent Girls With Loss-of-Control Eating.

OBJECTIVE: Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) has been proposed for prevention of excess weight gain among adolescents with loss-of-control (LOC) eating. Mixed findings from a trial testing this conjecture warrant elucidation of potential outcome predictors. The therapeutic alliance (adolescent-facilitator emotional bond and task collaboration) may be important for IPT but has received little attention in weight-related interventions. This study evaluated associations of adolescent-reported therapeutic alliance during IPT with weight- and eating-related outcomes. METHODS: Secondary analyses of a randomized controlled trial were conducted to compare group IPT to health education (HE) for preventing excess weight gain among 113 girls (ages 12-17) with body mass index (BMI) at the 75th to 97th percentile and LOC eating. BMI and LOC eating were measured at baseline, 12 weeks (postintervention), and 1 year. Multilevel modeling was used to test associations between change in therapeutic alliance (from session 1 to session 12) and changes in weight- and eating-related outcomes (from postintervention to 1 year). Analyses were controlled for therapeutic alliance after session 1 and for baseline and postintervention outcome values; group assignment (IPT vs. HE) was a moderator. RESULTS: Increases in emotional bond were associated with decreased weight and with greater decreases in number of LOC eating episodes at 1 year in the IPT group (p<0.05) and with weight gain in the HE group (p<0.05). Greater task collaboration was related to greater weight gain at 1-year follow-up, regardless of group assignment (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The association of therapeutic alliance during IPT with weight and LOC eating outcomes among adolescent girls merits further investigation.

Changes in attachment dimensions during the treatment of acute post-traumatic stress disorder in sexually assaulted Brazilian women.

Introduction: Attachment patterns are established during early childhood; however, extreme experiences throughout life may change this structure, either toward attachment security or insecurity. We analyzed changes in attachment dimensions in women with acute post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following sexual assault, that were randomized to a 14-week treatment with either the medication sertraline or Interpersonal Psychotherapy. Methods: Seventy-four adult women who presented significant reduction in PTSD symptoms across the trial responded to the Revised Adult Attachment Scale at baseline, on week 8 of treatment, and at the end of the trial, on week 14. We fitted a generalized linear model to explain the attachment anxiety and avoidance scores at baseline. A generalized linear mixed model investigated how attachment dimensions changed over time. Socioeconomic data, treatment type, history of childhood trauma, and PTSD severity over the 14-week period were the considered covariates. Results: At baseline, attachment anxiety was associated with a history of early trauma. Attachment anxiety remained stable during the follow-up. Attachment avoidance, on the other hand, significantly increased from baseline to week 14. Higher avoidance was observed in patients with higher total PTSD scores and on the cluster of hyperarousal symptoms. Races other than White (black, mixed-race, or Asian) and younger age were associated with higher attachment avoidance. Discussion: Contrary to our expectations, attachment avoidance increased during follow-up, indicating changes in the interpersonal realm beyond the symptoms of PTSD.

Interpersonal psychotherapy for comorbid prolonged grief disorder and persistent depressive disorder in a Japanese patient: A case report.

Background: Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is a new diagnostic entity. However, treatment for PGD is not yet available. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) may be effective for PGD. Case Presentation: A single 27-year-old Japanese woman lost her brother to suicide. However, she did not express her grief to anyone or visit a psychiatric clinic. After experiencing strong depressive symptoms triggered by work stress, she visited a psychiatric clinic, where she was diagnosed with depression as well as PGD. Through pharmacotherapy, her depressive symptoms improved, but no improvement was noted in her PGD symptoms. She therefore began IPT for PGD at our hospital, 5 years after her brother's suicide and after 4 years of PGD symptoms. In the introductory phase of IPT, she was diagnosed with comorbid persistent depressive disorder (PDD). After this diagnosis, through psychoeducation on PDD, she could identify the symptoms that reflected her personality traits as "PDD symptoms." Furthermore, she could affirm her positive and negative feelings and share them with others. Consequently, the grieving process was facilitated, and her interests and relationships were re-established. Her PGD and PDD symptoms improved. Conclusion: IPT may be effective for PGD comorbid with PDD among Japanese.

Implementation of Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy in primary care

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To show the implementation process of IPT-G in primary care, including facilitating and obstructing factors, implementation strategies, and training and supervision of primary care professionals. METHODS Quantitative (cross-sectional and longitudinal) analysis of pre and post-knowledge tests; qualitative analyses of the training courses; patient recruitment; conduction of IPT-G sessions; supervision of IPT-G therapists; application of a semi-structured questionnaire to assess, investigate, and develop strategies against the identified barriers. RESULTS About 120 clinicians answered the pre-test; 84 completed the post-test. Pre- and post-test scores of IPT-G knowledge were significantly different. Twenty initially trained clinicians completed additional supervision in IPT-G. Qualitative analysis identified twelve barriers and six facilitators to IPT-G implementation in individual, organizational, and systemic contexts. CONCLUSIONS Implementation of IPT-G in primary care is a complex process with several steps. In the first step, health professionals were successfully trained in IPT-G. However, subsequent steps were more complex. Therefore, careful planning of IPT-G implementation is essential to maximize the success of this innovation.

Effects of group interpersonal psychotherapy on cognitive and social function in patients with first-episode schizophrenia / 四川精神卫生

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of group interpersonal psychotherapy （IPT） on cognitive and social function in patients with first-episode schizophrenia， and to provide references for appropriate psychological treatment for the patients. MethodsA total of 62 patients with first-episode schizophrenia who met the diagnostic criteria of International Classification of Diseases， tenth edition （ICD-10） and were admitted to the Third People's Hospital of Foshan from January to December 2021 were selected as the study objects. And patients were divided into study group and control group according to random number table method， each with 31 cases. Both groups were treated with risperidone for 8 weeks， based on this， study group received group IPT. Before and after 8 weeks of treatment， Positive and Negative Syndrorne Scales （PANSS）， Wisconsin Card Sorting Tests （WCST） and Personal and Social Performance Sale（PSP） were adopted to assess the patients' psychiatric symptoms， cognitive function and social function. ResultsAfter 8 weeks of treatment， there was no significant difference in PANSS scores between the two groups （t=0.296， P>0.05）. The WCST total number of responses in the study group was larger than that in the control group， the number of perseverative errors and non-perseverative errors were smaller than those in the control group， and PSP score of the study group was higher than that of the control group， with statistically significant differences （t=0.398， 2.609， 0.523， 0.381， P<0.05 or 0.01）. ConclusionGroup IPT may have no significant efficacy on alleviating the symptoms of patients with first-episode schizophrenia， but it may help improve the cognitive and social function in patients.

The effect of group interpersonal psychotherapy on depression disorder of college students abused in childhood / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ObjectiveTo study the effect of group interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT-G) on depression disorder of college students abused in childhood.Methods 28 college students meeting criteria of DSM-Ⅳ for depression disorder were divided into two groups:the treatment group( 14 patients)and the control group (14 patients).The treatment group was treated with IPT-G.Depression Symptom Checklist and Global Assessment Function(GAF) were measured in two groups before and after treatment.Results ①Patients in treatment group had better efficacy than those in control group( 100％ vs 57.1％,x2 =7.636,P ＜ 0.01 ).②The treatment factor and time factor had main effect to depression symptom and GAF(F =4.23 ～ 184.93,P ＜ 0.05 ),also had interaction effect(F=15.87 ～82.36,P ＜ 0.01 ).Time factor and abuse factor had main effect to depression symptom and GAF(F =7.44 ～ 183.9,P ＜ 0.05 ),but no interaction effect (F =0.01 ～ 4.72,P ＞ 0.05 ).③IPT-G,depression symptom and quality of life before treatment,age and only children had remarkable predictable functions on depression symptom(P ＜ 0.05).IPT-G had striking predictable functions on GAF (P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionIPT-G can improve depression symptom,mental and Social Function,while childhood abuse has no effect.

Factores predictores del tratamiento de la bulimia nerviosa con Terapia Interpersonal / Predictors of Interpersonal Psychotherapy in patients with bulimic eating disorders

Objetivo: Determinar los factores de pronóstico del tratamiento de la bulimia nerviosa con terapia interpersonal. Diseño: 80 pacientes con el diagnostico de Bulimia Nerviosa (BN) o trastornos del comportamiento alimentario no especificados con características de BN (TCANE) fueron tratados con 16 sesiones de terapia interpersonal. Los pacientes fueron evaluados utilizando una entrevista semi-estructural (Clinical Eating Disorders Rating Instrument-CEDRIC). También completaron una batería de cuestionarios para evaluar los niveles de estima personal (Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale -RSE), la psicopatología de los trastornos de la alimentación (Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire-EDE-Q), la función interpersonal (Inventory of Interpersonal Functioning-IIP-32) y los niveles de depresión (Beck Depression Inventory-BDI). Método: El pronóstico de interés fue definido por la variable de remisión y recuperación. Para el análisis del estudio se realizaron una serie de regresiones logísticas. Resultado: Baja estima personal, y una menor patología en la función interpersonal fueron los factores de peor pronóstico. Conclusión: Aunque la terapia interpersonal es un tratamiento efectivo para las personas que sufren de bulimia nerviosa, los pacientes con estas patologías con baja estima personal y menos problemas interpersonales deberían de ser tratados con otro tipo de terapia.

Objective: To determine predictors of treatment outcomes in patients with Bulimic Eating Disorders treated with Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT). Design: Following initial assessment, 80 patients with diagnoses of Bulimia Nervosa or Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS), entered treatment in the form of 16 sessions of IPT. Patients were assessed using a validated semi-structure interview (Clinical Eating Disorders Rating Instrument-CEDRIC) and completed measures of self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale-RSE), eating psychopathology (Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire-EDE-Q), interpersonal functioning (Inventory of Interpersonal Functioning- IIP-32), and depression (Beck Depression Inventory-BDI). Method: Remission and recovery after 16 sessions of IPT were the two outcomes of interest. Univariate analysis and a series of backwards stepping logistic regressions were performed to determine the variables associated with remission and recovery. Result: Low self-esteem and less interpersonal problems were the main predictors of poor outcome. Conclusion: As patients with Bulimic Disorders with low levels of interpersonal problems and high levels of low self-esteem are likely to do less well with IPT, different type of treatment should be offered to them. A randomized controlled trial could explore this hypothesis in more detail.

Psicoterapia interpersonal en el tratamiento de la depresión mayor / Interpersonal Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder

Introducction. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), a time-limited psychotherapy, was developed in the 1970s as a treatment for outpatient adults with major depression. It has been subsequently modified for different age groups and types of mood and non mood disorders and for use as a long-term treatment. It has grown since in its range of research applications and in its clinical accessibility. Method. Review of recent research and educational developments on IPT. Results. IPT has demonstrated efficacy in several randomized controlled trials for acute major depression, for other psychiatric conditions and for long-term treatment of depression. Conclusions. By enhancing interpersonal functioning of the depressed patient IPT initiates the reduction of depressive symptomatology and helps solving current life problems as dual goal of therapy. The publication of efficacy data and the appearance of two North American practice guidelines that include IPT among validated treatments for depression have increased the interest among clinicians in many countries.

Introducción. La Terapia Interpersonal (IPT) desarrollada por Klerman et al. en los setenta como una alternativa breve, concisa y complementaria para el tratamiento de la Depresión Mayor ha demostrado ser eficaz en el corto y largo plazo. Su aplicación clínica no sólo se ha expandido a numerosas patologías psiquiátricas, sino que ha podido ser adaptada a tratamientos ultra breves, de largo plazo, a formatos de pareja y a intervenciones grupales. Método. Se revisan y analizan los principales estudios publicados en las últimas décadas en relación a la IPT y a su desarrollo. Resultados. La investigación clínica dispone actualmente de numerosos estudios controlados en los que se comparan fármacos antidepresivos, IPT y placebo. En general, éstos confirman la eficacia de la IPT. Asimismo, la comparación empírica con otras psicoterapias como cognitivo-conductual también ha revelado una elevada eficacia de la IPT en el tratamiento de una variada gama de patologías psiquiátricas. La combinación de IPT y fármacos antidepresivos ha demostrado mayor eficacia en diversos ensayos clínicos controlados. Discusión. La incorporación oficial de la IPT dentro de las escasas psicoterapias reconocidas por la American Psychiatric Association para el tratamiento de los trastornos del ánimo ha dado un importante apoyo a esta forma de tratamiento, aumentando significativamente el interés de psiquiatras clínicos y expertos en muchos países del orbe por esta ya no tan novel psicoterapia.

Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Inpatient with Major Depression / 中国心理卫生杂志

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness in Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy by alleviating the symptoms and improving social function in depressive inpatients. Methods:60 inpatients meeting criteria of DSM-Ⅵ for Major Depression were randomly assigned to experimental group and control group, 30 cases each. The experimental group received integral intervention including antidepressants and Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy, while the control group received mono-therapy of antidepressants for 12 weeks. Interpersonal problem was identified before the therapy. HAMD, SDSS were administered at the end of screening day and 12 week to both group. Result:1.Interpersonal problems areas (grief, interpersonal disputes, role transition and interpersonal deficit) in depressive inpatients showed a significant difference (5%,55%,30%,10%,?~2=3.187,P