Interpersonal Therapy was first developed in the 1970s by Myrna Weismann, Gerald Klerman and Eugene Klerman at Yale University in the United States, to be used in combination with antidepressants in non-psychotic major depression. It was systematized by Klerman in 1984. Reactions to stressors in daily life vary from person to person. Genetic factors, attachment style, social support, environmental factors, and events in childhood and adulthood shape these reactions. Interpersonal relations therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on short-term and especially interpersonal problems when patients encounter these stressors (Altın, 2012). Interpersonal Relationship Therapy takes its foundations from John Bowlby's attachment theory, Harry Stuck Sullivan and Adolph Meyer's interpersonal approaches and studies on social roles, and is shaped on the assumption that current relationship problems and mood are linked (Alkan, 2009). Interpersonal relations therapy adopts many techniques of psychodynamic and supportive psychotherapies. Its main targets are psychiatric symptoms, interpersonal relationships and social support.
The effectiveness of interpersonal relations therapy has been demonstrated in many clinical studies and has been adapted to other disorders besides mood disorders. Although it was initially developed for depression, there are later studies for many disorders. Studies conducted in recent years have shown its effectiveness in bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating problems, adolescent problems, as well as in training given in environments such as prisons, schools, hospitals and nursing homes. At the same time, its use with various patient groups has proven to be beneficial, and studies on shorter-term use in different cultural structures, spouses, groups and communities have also been tried and successful results have been reported. Interpersonal Relationships Therapy; It has been recognized as an effective method of psychotherapy by the American Psychiatric Association, the UK's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the International Cochrane Collaboration.
Features of Therapy
Therapy is short-term and gives priority to the problems of the "here and now" rather than the patient's past. Interpersonal relations therapy is goal-oriented and the therapist is on the patient's side, not neutral. The therapist has an optimistic and supportive attitude throughout the therapy process and actively gives direct advice, contributes to the patient's decision-making, and helps solve problems in areas of conflict. The main goal of this therapy is to help the patient improve his/her interpersonal relationships or change his/her expectations about these relationships and develop social support systems to cope with stress. The therapeutic relationship is of great importance for the success of the process. Interpersonal therapy is quick and short-term and addresses the current problem and correctable personality traits without getting to the roots of the personality. Interpersonal relations therapy evaluates the patient according to the biopsychosocial, cultural and spiritual model. It examines cognitive features one by one and focuses on their effects on interpersonal relationships, without focusing directly on distortions in thoughts. In interpersonal therapy, methods such as combating social isolation, building self-confidence, renewing group belonging, and attempts to give meaning to life are used, which are common with other psychotherapy methods. It involves weekly 45-50 minute sessions over a period of 3-4 months and the main goal is the improvement of interpersonal functionality. Therapy that is limited-term and focuses on life events has shown its effectiveness especially in mood disorders. The fact that the duration is limited and specific is a motivating factor for both the patient and the clinician.
Problem Areas
Problem areas of interpersonal relations therapy; mourning and loss (loss of parent, child, spouse, friend, loss of job, bankruptcy), interpersonal conflicts (conflicts within the family, conflicts at work), role change (becoming a mother or father, divorce, retirement, leaving the family for education, changing job ) and interpersonal inadequacy. Mourning is an area of concern, especially regarding the death of someone important to the patient. When a grief problem is the focus of treatment, the therapist's goal is to facilitate the patient's grief process, helping the patient move on with his life, develop new relationships, and gain social support. It is to help them organize their existing relationships in order to obtain additional income. Interpersonal conflicts often result from either poor communication or mismatching mutual expectations. In therapy, the patient's communication and behavioral patterns are first examined because the clinician's first goal is to help the patient regulate his communication style. Role reversal is events that cause changes in important social roles in a person's relationships and include life changes such as adolescence, marriage, divorce, birth, retirement, and ending a relationship. Typical problems in this area are sadness at the loss of the old and familiar role, adaptation problems to the new role, or complete rejection of the new role. In this case, the clinician and the patient evaluate the challenges and opportunities of the new role together, set priorities, and the patient is encouraged to evaluate the opportunities. Interpersonal deficit means that the patient has problems establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships. The clinician and the patient evaluate together the behavioral patterns in their past relationships, current problems and communication style.
Interpersonal relations therapy, which has a short history, is developing day by day and is being integrated with various types of therapy such as group therapies and cognitive-behavioral therapies. Interpersonal therapy is a type of psychotherapy that has been shown to be effective in a wide range of psychiatric disorders, from children and adolescents to the elderly, including depressive disorders, perinatal period, dysthymia, post-traumatic stress disorder, social phobia, bipolar disorder, anxiety and eating disorders.
Many clinical studies have shown the effectiveness of interpersonal relations therapy, especially in the treatment of mood disorders. In interpersonal psychotherapy, which focuses on interpersonal relationship problems and aims to improve functionality, the clinician aims to regulate the patient's communication skills, facilitate their coping with stress and increase their social support systems.
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