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A systematic review of research findings on the efficacy of interpersonal therapy for depressive disorders

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European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a time–limited psychotherapy for major depression. The aim of this study is to summarize findings from controlled trials of the efficacy of IPT in the treatment of depressive spectrum disorders (DSD) using a meta–analytic approach.

Methods

Studies of randomized clinical trials of IPT efficacy were located by searching all available data bases from 1974 to 2002. The searches employed the following MeSH categories: Depression/ Depressive Disorder; Interpersonal therapy; Outcome/Adverse Effects/Efficacy; in the identified studies. The efficacy outcomes were: remission; clinical improvement; the difference in depressive symptoms between the two arms of the trial at endpoint, and no recurrence. Drop out rates were used as an index of treatment acceptability.

Results

Thirteen studies fulfilled inclusion criteria and four meta–analyses were performed. IPT was superior in efficacy to placebo in nine studies (Weight Mean Difference (WMD) – 3.57 [–5.9, –1.16]). The combination of IPT and medication did not show an adjunctive effect compared to medication alone for acute treatment (RR 0.78 [0.30, 2.04]), for maintenance treatment (RR 1.01 [0.81, 1.25]), or for prophylactic treatment (RR 0.70 [0.30, 1.65]). IPT was significantly better than CBT (WMD –2.16 [–4.16,–0.15]).

Conclusion

The efficacy of IPT proved to be superior to placebo, similar to medication and did not increase when combined with medication. Overall, IPT was more efficacious than CBT. Current evidence indicates that IPT is an efficacious psychotherapy for DSD and may be superior to some other manualized psychotherapies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo Brazilian Research Council (CNPq) , Brazil

    J. de Jesus Mari MD, PhD

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil

    J. Bacaltchuk MD, PhD

  3. Clinical and Genetic Epidemiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA

    H. Verdeli PhD

  4. Epidemiology of Developmental Brain Disorders Department, NYS Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA

    R. Neugebauer PhD

  5. Sergievsky Center College of Physicians and Surgeons, Faculty of Medicine Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    R. Neugebauer PhD

  6. Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Dr. Bacelar, 334, São Paulo SP 04026-010, Brazil

    M. Feijo de Mello MD, PhD

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  1. M. Feijo de Mello MD, PhD
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  2. J. de Jesus Mari MD, PhD
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Correspondence to M. Feijo de Mello MD, PhD.

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de Mello, M.F., de Jesus Mari, J., Bacaltchuk, J. et al. A systematic review of research findings on the efficacy of interpersonal therapy for depressive disorders. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 255, 75–82 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-004-0542-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-004-0542-x

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