[Interpersonal Therapy: a brief and focal model].
Psychotherapy is a particular form of treatment in Psychiatry. Its use is widespread and has many different approaches.


OBJECTIVE
In this article, the author makes some considerations about Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), a brief and focal psychotherapy. Initially created to treat depression, other researchers had successfully increase its spectrum. It could be divided in three phases. Initial, when the therapist makes the diagnosis of the disorder and also the interpersonal problematic is pointed out; the patient received a sick role. Intermediary when the focus is treated, and the final phase when the therapist encourages the patient to recognize and consolidate gains and prepare the patient to use it in the future.


METHODS
It is stressed that IPT is a testable form of psychotherapy and the scientific evidences of its efficacy are showed.


CONCLUSIONS
The results assure that IPT is an efficient form of psychotherapy for depression with a great acceptability from the patients.
Mello
Marcelo Feijó de
MF
Departamento de Psiquiatria, UNIFESP. mf-mello@uol.com.br
D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*