Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Postpartum Depression

A Treatment Program

¹ Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City.

Dr. Stuart, Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242.

Postpartum depression is a frequent complication of childbirth. Postpartum depression is associated with disruptions in interpersonal relationships, and the puerperium is a period of major role transition. In contrast to other subtypes of depression, however, postpartum depression often is not treated with medication, which is relatively contraindicated for women who are breastfeeding. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) focuses specifically on the effects of depression on interpersonal functioning; this focus renders IPT a potentially useful psychosocial treatment for postpartum depression. The authors describe the use of IPT for the treatment of women with postpartum depression and present preliminary results from an open treatment trial of IPT.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. J. COOPER, L. MURRAY, A. WILSON, and H. ROMANIUK Controlled trial of the short- and long-term effect of psychological treatment of post-partum depression: 1. Impact on maternal mood The British Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2003; 182(5): 412 - 419. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. T. Beck Postpartum Depression: A Metasynthesis Qual Health Res, April 1, 2002; 12(4): 453 - 472. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. M. Klier, M. Muzik, K. L. Rosenblum, and G. Lenz Interpersonal Psychotherapy Adapted for the Group Setting in the Treatment of Postpartum Depression J Psychother Pract Res., April 1, 2001; 10(2): 124 - 131. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. W. O'Hara, S. Stuart, L. L. Gorman, and A. Wenzel Efficacy of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Postpartum Depression Arch Gen Psychiatry, November 1, 2000; 57(11): 1039 - 1045. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]