title: Using interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) in a combined psychotherapy/medication research protocol with depressed elders. A descriptive report with case vignettes.
abstract: One hundred eighty subjects at least 60 years of age with recurrent unipolar major depression were recruited to participate in a depression treatment protocol. All patients received drug therapy with nortriptyline (NT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) with an experienced clinician. Acutely, 81% of subjects showed a full response to combined treatment. In the initial 127 subjects, the most common problem areas in therapy were role transition (41%), interpersonal disputes (34.5%), and grief (23%). Case vignettes are presented and discussed. The combination of IPT and NT showed a powerful antidepressant effect. IPT was readily adaptable to the needs of depressed elders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wolfson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cornes
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silberman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ehrenpreis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zaltman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malloy
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011613:Psychotherapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D009661:Nortriptyline