Interpersonal psychotherapy is a relatively new, time-limited psychotherapy, which focuses on problems within social and interpersonal domains. It was originally developed by Klerman and Weissman for the treatment of patients with depression, but today it is being used for a broad range of disorders. Interpersonal psychotherapy is based on a biopsychosocial model of psychological functioning. It is theoretically founded on Attachment, Communication and Social theories. The focus of Interpersonal psychotherapy are interpersonal issues with an accent on understanding current disagreements, frustrations, desires and worries. The main goal in Interpersonal psychotherapy is to help clients, not just to try to understand and accept their life situation, but to change it. Considering the fact that this therapy is in the process of development, waiting for further verification in practice, a lot is still unknown – the determination of range of indications, optimal number and the duration of the sessions, combination with pharmacotherapy.

interpersonal psychotherapy, depression, social context, focus areas, interpersonal formulation