Box 5.

Key steps of performing interpersonal therapy in depression

Establishing the diagnosis

Identifying the focus areas (grief/IP role disputes, IP role transition, IP deficits)

Setting the goals (decreasing the symptoms of depression and improving the coping skills)

Assigning the sick role

Defining the time limit

Applying IPT techniques targeting the identified focus areas

Terminating therapy (consolidating gains and looking for options to deal with failure, such as continuation and addition of pharmacotherapy)

IP – Interpersonal; IPT – Interpersonal psychotherapy