Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression

Overseen By Rachel Margolis, PhD, MSW

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Children's National Research Institute

Disqualifiers: Bipolar, Schizophrenia, Substance abuse, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 2 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

Duration: 8-12 weeks

60 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Enhanced Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression?

Research shows that Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT-B), a shorter version of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), is effective for treating depression, offering quick relief and using fewer resources. Studies, including randomized controlled trials, support its benefits, making it a practical option for those unable to attend longer therapy sessions. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) safe for humans?

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is a well-researched treatment for depression and is generally considered safe for humans, with no specific safety concerns highlighted in the available studies. ^{1 3 4 6 7}

How is Enhanced Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy (Enhanced IPT-B) different from other treatments for depression?

Enhanced Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy (Enhanced IPT-B) is unique because it offers the benefits of traditional Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) in just eight sessions, making it a quicker option for those who may not be able to commit to longer therapy. It focuses on improving interpersonal relationships to alleviate depression, addressing issues like grief, role transitions, and interpersonal conflicts. ^{3 4 5 8 9}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the effectiveness and implementation of delivering Enhanced Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT-B), an evidence-based maternal depression treatment, to mothers of children aged 4-11 years in an urban pediatric asthma clinic. Researchers will compare Enhanced IPT-B and supplemented usual care (brief care coordination). The main questions the trial aims to answer are: 1. Does Enhanced IPT-B decrease maternal depressive symptoms? 2. Does Enhanced IPT-B improve child asthma management and health outcomes (exacerbations, symptoms, control)? 3. What are the preliminary implementation outcomes of delivering Enhanced IPT-B in an urban pediatric asthma clinic?

Research Team

Rachel Margolis, PhD, MSW

Principal Investigator

Children's National Research Institute

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for mothers with depression who have children aged 4-11 years with asthma, treated at an urban pediatric asthma clinic. Participants should not be currently receiving structured psychotherapy and must be able to attend multiple therapy sessions.

Inclusion Criteria

Maternal: PHQ-9 ≥ 10 during standardized screening at the child with asthma's clinic visit

Maternal: Black (self-identified)

My child is covered by public health insurance.

Exclusion Criteria

Maternal: Schizophrenia

Maternal: Current substance abuse/dependence

Maternal: Acutely suicidal (high risk on the C-SSRS at child's asthma clinic visit)

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Mothers receive Enhanced IPT-B, consisting of a pre-treatment session and eight weekly psychotherapy sessions

8-12 weeks

9 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for maternal mental health and child asthma management outcomes

6 months

2 visits (in-person) at 3 and 6 months post-baseline

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Enhanced Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy
• Supplemented Usual Care

Trial Overview The study tests Enhanced Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT-B) against supplemented usual care in reducing maternal depression and improving child asthma management. It will assess the effectiveness of IPT-B delivered in a real-world clinical setting.

Participant Groups

Group I: Enhanced IPT-B Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Enhanced Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Group II: Supplemented Usual Care Active Control 1 Intervention

Short-term care coordination

Enhanced Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy is already approved in United States, European Union for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Interpersonal Psychotherapy for:

• Major Depressive Disorder
• Postpartum Depression

Approved in European Union as Interpersonal Psychotherapy for:

• Major Depressive Disorder
• Postpartum Depression

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Children's National Research Institute

Lead Sponsor

Trials

227

Recruited

258,000+

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Collaborator

Trials

473

Recruited

1,374,000+

Findings from Research

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is effective for treating depression, but some patients may drop out or not respond adequately, highlighting the need to address treatment limitations.

To improve IPT outcomes, factors such as enhancing the therapeutic alliance, adapting treatment to individual patient characteristics, and potentially combining IPT with medication can be beneficial.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Failures in interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT): factors related to treatment resistances. Ravitz, P., McBride, C., Maunder, R.[2021]

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) has been adapted for chronic unipolar depression, focusing on improving interpersonal functioning, which is crucial for patients with ongoing interpersonal difficulties.

Recent studies suggest that while IPT can provide some benefits for chronic depression, these effects are modest and not specific, indicating that more research is needed to fully understand its efficacy in this context.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interpersonal psychotherapy for chronic depression. Markowitz, JC.[2022]

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) was successfully integrated into a psychiatry residency program over a 5-year period, highlighting its effectiveness as a brief, evidence-based treatment for acute major depression.

The implementation process not only enhanced the training of residents in evidence-based treatment approaches but also helped convey essential psychotherapy concepts, indicating its value in medical education.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementing interpersonal psychotherapy in a psychiatry residency training program. Lichtmacher, J., Eisendrath, SJ., Haller, E.[2006]

Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT-B) is an effective eight-session adaptation of standard Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) designed for individuals who may not be able to commit to longer therapy, providing similar benefits in fewer sessions.

Empirical evidence from multiple studies, including randomized controlled trials, supports IPT-B's efficacy in delivering rapid relief from depression while also being resource-efficient.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT-B): Overview and Review of Evidence. Swartz, HA., Grote, NK., Graham, P.[2019]

In a study of 182 patients with major depressive disorder, interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) was found to be equally effective across all four problem areas (grief, role transitions, role disputes, interpersonal deficits), with no significant differences in remission times.

Patients focusing on role transitions experienced faster remission compared to those addressing role disputes, suggesting that certain interpersonal issues may respond more quickly to IPT strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparative outcomes among the problem areas of interpersonal psychotherapy for depression. Levenson, JC., Frank, E., Cheng, Y., et al.[2021]

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) has proven effective in randomized controlled trials for treating major depression and bulimia across various patient populations.

Despite its efficacy for depression, IPT showed no benefits for patients with substance abuse issues, highlighting the need for tailored treatments in this area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Developments in interpersonal psychotherapy. Markowitz, JC.[2017]

Training in interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for therapists in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs led to significant improvements in their competency, with 93% of therapists completing the training and showing increased skills in delivering IPT.

Veteran patients receiving IPT experienced large reductions in depression symptoms (effect size d = 1.26) and significant improvements in quality of life and therapeutic alliance, demonstrating the effectiveness of IPT in treating depression in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

National dissemination of interpersonal psychotherapy for depression in veterans: therapist and patient-level outcomes. Stewart, MO., Raffa, SD., Steele, JL., et al.[2018]

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is a well-established short-term therapy for depression, typically involving 16 to 20 sessions, and has been shown to be effective in various controlled studies.

IPT focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and addressing life problems, which helps reduce depressive symptoms and supports patients in resolving their current challenges.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) of depression: an overview of the psychiatric historical background and clinical practice of IPT]. Grüttert, T., Huchzermeier, C., Aldenhoff, J.[2006]

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is an effective, standardized, and economical treatment for depression that focuses on resolving psychosocial and interpersonal conflicts, making it a valuable option in psychiatric care.

IPT can be quickly learned by experienced therapists through a standardized training program, which may lead to its increased adoption in Germany's mental health services.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Current status of interpersonal psychotherapy]. Schramm, E., Berger, M.[2019]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Failures in interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT): factors related to treatment resistances. [2021]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interpersonal psychotherapy for chronic depression. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementing interpersonal psychotherapy in a psychiatry residency training program. [2006]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT-B): Overview and Review of Evidence. [2019]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparative outcomes among the problem areas of interpersonal psychotherapy for depression. [2021]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Developments in interpersonal psychotherapy. [2017]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

National dissemination of interpersonal psychotherapy for depression in veterans: therapist and patient-level outcomes. [2018]

8. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) of depression: an overview of the psychiatric historical background and clinical practice of IPT]. [2006]

9. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Current status of interpersonal psychotherapy]. [2019]