Brief Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy: A Clinician's Guide Alessandra Lemma, Mary Target & Peter Fonagy Oxford University Press, 2011, £19.99, pb, 288 pp. ISBN: 9780199602452

The first thing that struck me about this book was the title. Was this a new take on interpersonal therapy? This was made clear within the first page of the preface, with the short answer being ‘no’. Whereas the focus of dynamic interpersonal therapy is on relationships in the present, it aims to facilitate understanding of these in the context of past experiences using a psychodynamic paradigm.

Dynamic interpersonal therapy is not ‘psychoanalysis-lite’, and neither does it pretend to be. Instead, it is a semi-structured, focused psychotherapy designed for treatment of mood disorders. Although ‘brief’ is not included in the name of the therapy, it is reflected in the 16-session structure. This aims to provide an ‘interpersonal affective focus’, with a view to using this as a foundation for understanding current difficulties, before dedicating the final sessions to the ending of therapy. Self-rating scales are used at the start of each session, both to track change and to aid reflection of current difficulties.

The book is easy to read and - as well as a detailed description of dynamic interpersonal therapy - provides an aide mémoire for basic psychodynamic theory, which ensures that it does not alienate readers with jargon. It consists of 11 well-structured chapters, which take the reader from considering and assessing suitability for dynamic interpersonal therapy, to the initial phases and formulation, through the middle part of the therapy (including techniques and working within the transference), and finishing aptly with the ending phase. Diagrams are used to aid understanding of concepts and clinical examples illustrate the application of the techniques. There is also a helpful chapter entitled ‘When things go wrong’, which addresses useful learning points that transcend the remit of dynamic interpersonal therapy.

As well as being a well-written manual for the dynamic interpersonal therapy training course, this book is also likely to stimulate interest among both psychotherapists and general adult psychiatrists with a penchant for psychodynamic practice. And because dynamic interpersonal therapy has been selected as the brief psychodynamic protocol that will be provided nationally in the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme, it is certainly something worth learning more about.