Key Components

Core Principles

IPSRT is based on a chronobiological model that recognizes how disruptions in daily routines and social rhythms can trigger mood episodes. The therapy focuses on:

Stabilizing circadian rhythms

Improving interpersonal relationships

Helping patients maintain regular daily routines

Key Components

Therapeutic Approach:

Combines principles of interpersonal psychotherapy with behavioral techniques

Helps patients regularize daily routines

Addresses interpersonal problems

Improves medication adherence

Treatment Phases

IPSRT typically proceeds through four distinct phases:

Initial Phase:

Review patient's mental health history

Identify patterns between social routine disruptions and mood episodes

Provide psychoeducation about bipolar disorder

Assess interpersonal relationships

Choose a focus area (grief, role transitions, role disputes, or interpersonal deficits)

Intermediate Phase:

Bring regularity to social rhythms

Explore sources of interpersonal distress

Identify supportive and destabilizing relationships

Maintenance Phase:

Reinforce learned techniques

Monitor symptomatic and functional changes

Review early warning signs of mood episodes

Final Phase:

Gradually reduce therapy session frequency

Ensure patient can maintain learned skills

Therapeutic Goals

The primary objectives of IPSRT include:

Stabilizing social rhythms

Improving interpersonal relationship quality

Preventing mood episode recurrence

Enhancing overall functioning for individuals with bipolar disorder

Unique Features:

Uses Social Rhythm Metric to track daily routine regularity

Helps patients develop skills to maintain mood stability

Addresses both biological and psychosocial factors

IPSRT is typically used as an add-on therapy for bipolar disorder and other mood disorders, working in conjunction with medication to provide comprehensive treatment