Interpersonal Psychotherapy of Depression: A Brief, Focused, Specific Strategy (Master Work)
This book clearly sets forth the theoretical assumptions and operating principles of interpersonal psychotherapy for depression. It provides excellent illustrative case material with important collateral information, such as reviews of outcome studies and of current pharmacological treatments. A history of the interpersonal approach, and discussion of the relationships between this approach and those of 'competing' schools, add to the book's general value. The material is skillfully presented, concise, and readable. The book is a significant contribution to clinical research and practice. Readers will find it satisfying in a number of ways: as an introduction to short-term, structured psychotherapy for depression, and as a companion to texts delineating other short-term approaches, such as those of the cognitive or behavioral schools. (Aaron T. Beck, M.D.)The authors—pioneers in the development of a brief, focused, specific strategy of psychotherapy for the treatment of depression—have described their treatment with the precision and clarity that allow others to replicate their methods and evaluate their results. This book marks a major step in the transformation of psychotherapy from a field of competing traditions to a science in which hypotheses can be tested and accepted or rejected. For the first time we will be able to stop arguing about treasured beliefs and start building new treatments based upon the proven results of older ones. (Robert Michels, M.D.)