History of IPT

Origin of IPT

IPT was developed by Dr Gerald L. Klerman and Dr Myrna M. Weissman.

In 1970 in Yale University, Dr Gerald Klerman was to design a study to test the efficacy of amitriptyline, with and without psychotherapy. Dr Myrna Weissman was tasked to design the psychotherapy. Influenced by the work of Harry Stack Sullivan, Adolf Meyer and John Bowlby, a psychotherapy manual was created, which later become known as interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT). The basic assumption was the onset and recurrence of a depressive episode were related to the patient’s social and interpersonal relationships. Early result showed that IPT was useful in the acute treatment of depression, particularly when combined with antidepressant.

The first IPT manual was published in 1984, after the efficacy of IPT had been independently demonstrated by other research group. After the publication of the first manual, many studies and adaptations of IPT followed, including IPT for adolescents, the elderly, pregnant and postpartum women, women after miscarriage, medical patients, and as part of maintenance therapy for recurrent depression and bipolar disorder, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and depression in developing countries. The IPT manual has been translated into 10 languages. 

Dr Klerman died in 1992, and Dr John Markowitz, one of Dr Klerman’s last trainees, joined Dr Weissman in updating the IPT manual over the years. The earliest gatherings of IPT professionals were held in conjunction with meetings of the American Psychiatric Association in the late 1990’s, organised by Dr John Markowitz.  

In 2002, the International Society of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (ISIPT) was formally incorporated in Australia under the leadership of Rebecca Reay and Dr Michael Robertson.  The organisation moved to the United States in 2010 under the leadership of Dr Scott Stuart. ISIPT’s first formal elections were held in 2015 and Dr Holly Swartz was ISIPT’s first elected President.

As of today, the ISIPT has been at the forefront in supporting IPT research and training. It serves at a pivotal role in supporting the professional development of IPT practitioners from around the world. The ISIPT holds a bi-annual conference to allow global IPT therapists and trainers to gather together, share their expertise, and to advance the development of IPT.

References

MM Weissman. Interpersonal Psychotherapy: History and Future. Am J Psychiatry Published Online: 22 Nov 2019.