title: Group versus individual interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study adds to the limited evidence concerning the benefits of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) with depressed adolescents. It evaluates the long-term effects of group versus individual delivery of this treatment approach.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a small-scale examination of the long-term efficacy of group versus individual delivery of IPT for depressed adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine adolescents, aged 13-19 years, with a primary diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder, were randomly assigned in blocks to either group or individual delivery of IPT. Standardized clinical interview and questionnaire assessments were conducted at pre- and posttreatment, and 12-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intent-to-treat (ITT) analyses indicated significant improvements in depression, anxiety, youth-reported internalizing problems, and global functioning from pre- to posttreatment for those receiving IPT, with no significant differences in outcome between group and individual formats of delivery. Improvements were maintained at 12-month follow-up. Completer analyses also revealed significant and sustained improvements on these measures for those receiving IPT, with no differences in outcome between therapy formats for most measures. Individual IPT showed significantly greater improvements than group IPT in parent-reported internalizing problems for the completer but not the ITT analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both individual and group formats of IPT offer promise in producing long-term benefits in the treatment of depression among adolescents.
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland,Brisbane,Australia.
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: O'Shea
authors.affiliation: Griffith University,Brisbane,Australia.
authors.forename: Susan H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.affiliation: Griffith University,Brisbane,Australia.
authors.forename: Caroline L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Donovan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Interpersonal psychotherapy; adolescents; depression; group therapy