USING AN IPT CONCEPTUALIZATION TO TREAT A DEPRESSED PERSON WITH DEMENTIA

Abstract

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) was developed in the late 1960s, but has only recently gained real prominence. The interest in this approach has grown further following the positive findings obtained in the NIMH study (Elkin et al., 1989). In this extensive, multi-site US study it was found to be as effective as CBT and, in some methods of analyses, more effective. There is a growing literature on IPT's use with older people (Miller and Reynolds, 2002), but very few articles, with the exception of Bauer's (1997) work, have examined its use with people with cognitive impairment. The present paper describes the use of IPT to treat a man (Mr M) with dementia suffering from depression. The case is presented chiefly as a vehicle to explore the applicability of the conceptual framework, although details regarding treatment are discussed.