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Telephone-delivered Interpersonal Psychotherapy: a systematic review
Mario Miniati1, Francesca Marzetti2, Laura Palagini1
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
CNS Spectrums
|October 18, 2021
Summary
Interpersonal Psychotherapy via telephone (IPT-T) is as effective as in-person therapy for depression. This review of 13 studies found comparable response rates, though limitations exist.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Telehealth
Background:
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is a recognized treatment for depression.
- The delivery of IPT via telephone (IPT-T) has emerged as a viable alternative modality.
- This review synthesizes evidence on the efficacy and methodology of IPT-T.
Approach:
- A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed for studies published between January 1, 1990, and June 30, 2020.
- The review initially identified 60 papers, with a final selection of 13 studies meeting the inclusion criteria.
- Methodologies included randomized clinical trials (46.2%), prospective open-label studies (15.7%), pilot studies (23.1%), and feasibility/acceptance studies (7.7%).
Key Points:
- A total of 1850 patients were included across the studies, with a mean age of 47.8 years.
- Qualitative synthesis focused on six randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which were generally of good quality.
- A wide range of 34 different instruments were used to assess outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy via telephone (IPT-T) demonstrates response rates comparable to traditional in-person IPT for depression.
- Limitations include small sample sizes, potential selection bias towards less severe cases, and heterogeneity in outcome measurement tools.
- Further research with larger, diverse samples and standardized measures is warranted to solidify findings.
