Treating depression naturally should always been the first preference. This is primarily due to the fact that there are side effects and addictive properties associated with most medications that are used for treating depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy, as different from the traditional ‘talking therapy’ has been established as being the most effective among the recent natural remedies for depression.

Interpersonal therapy can be considered as an offshoot of cognitive behavioral therapy. This is because most of the techniques that are used in interpersonal therapy are modifications of the intervention methods that have been used extensively in cognitive behavioral therapy.

Cognitive therapy emphasizes on the internal mental processes. In conjunction with behavioral therapy it focuses on how people think about themselves. Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a short but highly focused form of treatment that addresses the problems related to social functioning in patients suffering from depression.

Interpersonal therapy can help significantly in certain specific areas.

* Interpersonal disputes that can arise from distress and difference in conceptualization of situations.
* Grief, as in loss due to death.
* Transitions of roles at critical junctures in life like retirement, childbirth and aging.
* Interpersonal deficits or the inability to build relationships.

Various questioning, listening and intervention styles are used to treat interpersonal issues. Some of the techniques used are:

* Clarification – questioning in a style as if to seek clarifications from the patient in order to do away with biases.
* Supportive listening – it is a technique of silent listening using only meaningful interjections.
* Role playing and Communication analysis – techniques used as behavioral interventions for treating interpersonal disputes.
* Encouragement of affect – a toll that allows patients to accept the unwanted emotional component of an interpersonal issue.

Interpersonal therapy may involve 12 to 16 sittings of at least one hour each. The therapist uses the initial sittings to:

* Gather information
* Understanding the nature of illness and interpersonal issues.
* Structure IPT sessions and the course of treatment.
* Explain the interpersonal issues involved.

Treatment usually involves addressing the various aspects that cause problems in relationships. No attention is given to the depression except for enquiries into the severity of symptoms and the reaction to treatment.

The therapist functions within the manual. There is some sort of debate as to the role of the therapist. The debate is around the level to which the therapist should be active. Even in absence of clear-cut guidelines interpersonal therapy can be of great help in identifying and treating problem areas in building relationships

References:

http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=news&id=101777&cn=5

http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=weblog&id=218&wlid=6&cn=5

http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/42/10/42

http://www.med.umich.edu/depression/ipt.htm