The value of maintenance interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) in older adults with different IPT foci
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 21, 2026

Therapeutic Massage for Psychological Well-being in Geriatric Oncology
Published on: May 22, 2026
Mark D Miller1, Ellen Frank, Cleon Cornes
1Intervention Research Center for Late-Life Mood Disorders, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA, USA. millermd@msx.upmc.edu
Objective/Methods:
The authors examined recurrence rates of major depression in elderly subjects with different foci of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), who were treated for up to 3 years with either monthly maintenance IPT and pill placebo or with monthly clinical management and pill placebo.
Results:
Among subjects with an IPT focus on role conflict, a greater proportion of those treated with maintenance-IPT survived for 3 years without recurrence than those treated with placebo/clinical management. Median time to recurrence was 68.9 weeks in IPT-treated patients versus 16.3 weeks for patients in clinical management. Subjects with an IPT focus on abnormal grief or role transition demonstrated no effect differential for maintenance IPT and pill-placebo on recurrence prevention over supportive clinical management and pill-placebo.
Conclusion:
If replicated in a larger sample, these findings have important implications for ongoing case-management decisions.
Related Concept Videos
Psychotherapy
Elements Crucial for Effective Psychotherapy
The Therapeutic Alliance
The therapeutic alliance refers to the relationship between the therapist and the client. The alliance strengthens when the therapist and the client engage in a nurturing, supportive, trusting, empathetic, and respectful relationship, improving therapeutic outcomes. Therapists must monitor this relationship...
Psychodynamic Therapy
Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Interpersonal Psychotherapy