Effectiveness of Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy Among Women with Major Depression in Turkey

Abstract

Depression is a common psychiatric disorder and the leading cause of disability worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of group interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT-G) on the levels of depression and social adaptation among married Turkish women with interpersonal relationship problems and to determine whether the intervention was compatible with Turkish culture. A pretest-posttest nonequivalent-control-groups design was used. Twenty-two female participants who received a diagnosis of major depression at an outpatient psychiatry clinic were assigned to receive either IPT-G and pharmacotherapy or treatment as usual (pharmacotherapy) for 12 weeks. Quantitative data were collected from bogggth groups using the Beck Depression Inventory and Social Adaptation Self-Evaluation Scale before and after the interventions. Findings indicate statistically significant improvements on both outcome measures. IPT-G intervention used in this study was effective in decreasing the depression levels and increasing the social adaptation of women with major depression in the eastern part of Turkey.