The Effectiveness of Interpersonal Therapy in Treating Depression

Depression is one of the most common mood disorders on earth, but also one of the most serious. It associates feelings of sadness and hopelessness and is the leading course of suicides of all times (Symonds & Anderson, 2012). Early treatment of the condition requires early diagnosis and intervention through various methods developed by specialists. Dysthymia, on the other hand, is a form of depression that is much milder but persistent (Symonds & Anderson, 2012). It can go on over two years, slowly affecting an individual and feeding their loneliness and hopelessness. Interpersonal therapy is a form of conversational therapy that focuses on patterns in the relationships that people form (Markowitz & Weissman, 2012). It recognizes the effects of relationships on the possibility of someone having depression.

The Research Question
How effective is interpersonal therapy in the treatment of depression and dysthymia in adults?
Five hypotheses for a typical Quantitative Research Questions
Interpersonal therapy is effective in the treatment of depression and dysthymia
Interpersonal therapy is effective in the treatment of depression in adults
Interpersonal therapy (IT) is effective in the treatment of dysthymia in adults
IT is easier to use compared to other forms of therapy
IT is easy to use on adults as a form of treatment
The Research Problem
There is a need to evaluate interpersonal as a treatment option for depression and dysthymia. There are various treatment options for depression and dysthymia.

However, selecting the most appropriate treatment depends on the case and the interests of the parties involved. Interpersonal Therapy has proven to be an effective treatment in psychology, especially in the treatment of anxiety. Understanding its effectiveness in depression and dysthymia treatment is essential in the relaying of insight on what treatment options to consider.
The Significance of the Study
Understanding the effectiveness of interpersonal therapy allows it to be a source of research and evidence towards the treatment of depression. This option mostly comes secondary to the more popular option of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Therefore, increasing awareness and researching the effectiveness of interpersonal therapy in the treatment of depression aids in popularizing the treatment, giving therapists and patients credible options to explore. The concept of interpersonal therapy is a significant one, especially since people are social beings whose relationships affect them in profound ways. As much as researchers have explored interpersonal therapy, there is still a need for more research and awareness. This research paper will, therefore, serve to supplement the information and knowledge available for consumption and utilization.
Moreover, as much as there is research on this area, there is a much fewer research paper that focuses on the effectiveness of interpersonal therapy in the treatment of depression and dysthymia.
Theory of method
Method
The research will include a literature review on the issues of depression and dysthymia, especially in adults. The literature review will also consist of quantitative researches conducted on the topic of depression and the use of interpersonal therapy. It will also include other topics such as the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication in the treatment of depression. Theory or theories that apply to the concepts associated with the RQ
The following theories justify the need to research the research question. They form the theoretical framework of the research paper. They support the concepts behind the research question and subject of discussion.
Social Penetration theory
Relational dialectics theory
Uncertainty reduction theory
Politeness theory
Social exchange theory

References
Baxter, L. A., & Norwood, K. M. (2015). Relational Dialectics Theory. The International Encyclopedia of Interpersonal Communication, 1-9. doi:10.1002/9781118540190.wbeic019
Feng, H. (2015). Politeness Theory, Cultural Approaches. The International Encyclopedia of Language and Social Interaction, 1-6. doi:10.1002/9781118611463.wbielsi144
Hayward, M., Berry, K., & Ashton, A. (2011). Applying interpersonal theories to the understanding of and therapy for auditory hallucinations: A review of the literature and directions for further research. Clinical Psychology Review, 31(8), 1313-1323. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2011.09.001
Markowitz, J. C., & Weissman, M. M. (2012). Interpersonal Psychotherapy: Past, Present, and Future. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 19(2), 99-105. doi:10.1002/cpp.1774
Symonds, C., & Anderson, I. M. (2012). Unipolar depression and dysthymia. Medicine, 40(11), 591-595. doi:10.1016/j.mpmed.2012.08.006
Van Orden, K. A., Talbot, N., & King, D. (2012). Using the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide to Inform Interpersonal Psychotherapy With a Suicidal Older Adult. Clinical Case Studies, 11(5), 333-347. doi:10.1177/1534650112457710