title: Modification of interpersonal psychotherapy with depressed adolescents (IPT-A): phase I and II studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the acceptability and efficacy of interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents (IPT-A).
  
  
  METHODS
  In phase I, therapeutic methods were explored and refined in a small sample of depressed adolescents (n = 5). In phase II, 14 depressed adolescents entered a 12-week open clinical trial of IPT-A; after independent evaluation. Subjects were assessed using a semistructured diagnostic interview, self-report, and clinician-administered instruments, at six time points: evaluation week, and weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In phase I, treatment was modified to meet the needs of an adolescent population and was standardized in a treatment manual. The results of phase II indicated a significant decrease in adolescents' depressive symptomatology and symptoms of psychological and physical distress, as well as a significant improvement in functioning over the course of treatment. At termination, none of the subjects met DSM-III-R criteria for any depressive disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IPT-A appears to be a promising therapy for depressed adolescents. However, because of the limitations of the current study, a larger randomized controlled clinical trial is still needed to test its efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Children's Anxiety and Depression Clinic, New York, NY.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mufson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Weissman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wickramaratne
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samoilov
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D016896:Treatment Outcome