Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Adolescents (IPT- A): Extending the Reach from Academic to Community...

Depression is a persistent and impairing illness for adolescents. Many adolescents have limited access to care and/or do not receive adequate treatment for their depression. Researchers have developed a number of empirically supported interventions for adolescent depression; the challenge is to bring these treatments into community settings and assess their effectiveness under real world conditions. This paper provides a critical examination of research conducted on the use of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for depressed adolescents (IPT-A). The paper presents evidence for the efficacy and effectiveness of IPT-A. Implementation and dissemination efforts are discussed in regard to lessons learned and directions for future research.