Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026
09:55
Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on: March 8, 2018
Interpersonal factors in understanding and treating posttraumatic stress disorder
John C Markowitz1, Barbara Milrod, Kathryn Bleiberg
1New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA. jcm42@columbia.edu
Journal of Psychiatric Practice
|April 3, 2009
Summary
Exposure therapy is common for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but interpersonal factors like social support are also key. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) shows promise for improving relationships and reducing PTSD symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Social Science
Background:
- Exposure therapy is a primary treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Interpersonal factors significantly influence PTSD onset, chronicity, and treatment outcomes.
- Social support plays a crucial role as a protective factor and recovery mechanism post-trauma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of interpersonal factors in PTSD.
- To explore interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) as an alternative PTSD treatment.
- To propose a mechanism linking relationship improvement to PTSD symptom amelioration.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of interpersonal factors in PTSD.
- Discussion of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) principles and application.
- Presentation of findings from two initial IPT studies for PTSD.
Main Results:
- Interpersonal factors, particularly social support, are critical in PTSD.
- Initial studies of IPT for PTSD show encouraging results.
- Attachment and relationships are highlighted as important for recovery.
Conclusions:
- Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) offers a promising alternative or adjunctive treatment for PTSD.
- Improving interpersonal relationships may be a key mechanism for reducing PTSD symptoms.
- Further research into the interpersonal aspects of PTSD treatment is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, forced displacement, or severe accidents. It significantly impairs individuals' ability to cope with daily activities and disrupts their emotional and psychological equilibrium.
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
01:25Elements Crucial for Effective Psychotherapy
Research has highlighted several critical factors that influence the effectiveness of psychotherapy, such as the therapeutic alliance, the therapist, and the client.
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...
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...
01:25Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a structured, time-limited therapeutic approach initially developed to treat depression. It integrates key concepts from psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral therapies, making it a uniquely eclectic framework. The therapy is rooted in the interpersonal theories of Adolph Meyer and Harry Stack Sullivan, as well as John Bowlby's attachment theory, and focuses on the interplay between interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being.
01:29Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapies emphasize the exploration of unconscious processes and early childhood experiences as fundamental contributors to psychological difficulties. These therapies, deeply rooted in Freud's psychoanalytic theory, aim to uncover and resolve unconscious conflicts, granting individuals insights that promote emotional and behavioral healing. Contemporary psychodynamic approaches have evolved, integrating a broader range of influences and methodologies while still valuing the...
01:22Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid
Personality disorders represent enduring cognition, affect, and behavior patterns that significantly deviate from societal norms. These maladaptive traits often lead to difficulties in various domains, including interpersonal relationships, occupational settings, and overall psychological well-being. Paranoid personality disorder and schizoid personality disorder are two distinct conditions marked by odd or eccentric behavior.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is...
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is...
01:30Dissociative Identity Disorder
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously termed multiple personality disorder, is a complex psychological condition characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states. Each identity exhibits unique patterns of behavior, voice, and mannerisms and may possess separate memories and emotional responses. The alternating control between identities can result in memory gaps and challenges in recalling daily activities, often exacerbating the individual's...