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Interpersonal Psychotherapy for College Students (IPT-CS): Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effectiveness of Group Modality
Journal of College Student Psychotherapy (2023)
  • Colleen S. Conley
  • Sarah E Broner, Loyola University Chicago
  • Maya Hareli
  • Leslie Miller
  • Alexandra K Rafaeli, Ben Gurion University
Abstract
Despite college students’ high rates of depression, a large treatment gap remains in which many students in need are not receiving evidence-based care. This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) delivered a novel adaptation of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for College Students (IPT-CS) in group modality at a college counseling center. Of 97 students expressing interest, 18 with mild to moderate depression were randomized to IPT-CS or referral-to-usual-care. The nine who initiated IPT-CS treatment had an average 96.67% attendance rate across 10 sessions and rated IPT-CS as satisfactory and accessible. Facilitators also rated IPT-CS as satisfactory, feasible, and faithful to IPT. Group-by-time analyses indicated that IPT-CS, compared to referral-to-usual-care, yielded a pattern of medium to large effects for depression, anxiety, quality of life, social adjustment and support, interpersonal concerns overall, and disconnection/loneliness specifically. As the pilot trial was powered to detect quite large effects, group-by-time analyses only reached statistical significance for depression and social support, as did within-group analyses for quality of life and interpersonal concerns overall. Importantly, reductions in depression and anxiety were clinically significant, dropping from moderate at pre-intervention to mild/no signs at post-intervention. These findings have implications for improving the accessibility, reach, and impact of effective mental health services for college students.
Keywords
  • Accessibility,
  • college counseling center,
  • depression,
  • group therapy,
  • Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT),
  • university students
Publication Date
December 4, 2023
DOI
10.1080/87568225.2023.2276621
Citation Information
Colleen S. Conley, Sarah E Broner, Maya Hareli, Leslie Miller, et al.. "Interpersonal Psychotherapy for College Students (IPT-CS): Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effectiveness of Group Modality" Journal of College Student Psychotherapy (2023)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/colleen_conley/37/