Objective: To test the acceptability and efficacy of interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents (IPT-A).
Method: In phase I, therapeutic methods were explored and refined in a small sample of depressed adolescents (n = 5). In phase II, 14 depressed adolescents entered a 12-week open clinical trial of IPT-A; after independent evaluation. Subjects were assessed using a semistructured diagnostic interview, self-report, and clinician-administered instruments, at six time points: evaluation week, and weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12.
Results: In phase I, treatment was modified to meet the needs of an adolescent population and was standardized in a treatment manual. The results of phase II indicated a significant decrease in adolescents' depressive symptomatology and symptoms of psychological and physical distress, as well as a significant improvement in functioning over the course of treatment. At termination, none of the subjects met DSM-III-R criteria for any depressive disorder.
Conclusions: IPT-A appears to be a promising therapy for depressed adolescents. However, because of the limitations of the current study, a larger randomized controlled clinical trial is still needed to test its efficacy.