Core Components

Interpersonal Psychotherapy – Adolescent Skills Training (IPT-AST) is a manualised, preventive programme delivered to adolescents (13-17 years) with elevated depression symptoms as determined on depression scales/ depression screening tools. IPT-AST is designed to reduce their susceptibility to developing depression, and reduce depressive symptoms. The programme achieves this by teaching communication strategies and interpersonal skills. This helps adolescents improve their relationships, and protects them from depression.

IPT-AST is typically delivered in schools, in 10 weekly sessions, over 10-12 weeks. These sessions consist of two individual sessions and eight group sessions. Individual sessions consist of the pre-group session which last about 90 minutes and can be delivered over 2 sessions, and the mid group session which lasts about 45 minutes. Parents are invited to attend individual sessions. The group sessions are delivered to groups of 4-6 adolescents, and last about 90 minutes. Adolescents are grouped according to their ages, with no more than 3 years age difference between the youngest and oldest in each group. The programme sessions have a psychoeducation element that teaches about depression symptoms, and the association between feeling and interpersonal relationships. The sessions also teach communication strategies and interpersonal skills to improve the relationships in the adolescents’ lives. Adolescents initially practice the taught skills within their groups, then proceed to applying these skills to other people at home.  The manual for IPT-AST programme is published by Oxford University Press and contains programme research evidence, session-by-session descriptions, and issues with programme implementation. The programme is delivered through didactics, role-play, games and homework assignments. One or two practitioners deliver the programme depending on what is practical for the implementing organisation.

Fidelity

Fidelity is ensured by adherence to the measure below;

• Use of fidelity monitoring checklist for review of recorded individual and group sessions. Checklist is used by consultant for practitioner evaluation, and by the practitioner for self-evaluation

Modifiable Components

IPT-AST programme manual is only available in English. In addition to schools, IPT-AST can be delivered in out-patient clinic settings. The programme has been delivered in UK, Canada, US and India.

Support for Organisation / Practice

Interpersonal Psychotherapy – Adolescent Skills Training (IPT-AST) was developed by Dr. Jami Young and Dr. Laura Mufson. IPT-AST was adapted from Interpersonal Psychotherapy for depressed adolescents (IPT-A), also developed by Dr. Laura Mufson.

Implementation Support

IPT-AST is published as a practitioner manual. The manual provides clear session-by-session descriptions; addresses key issues seen with IPT-AST implementation; and provides IPT-AST research evidence. IPT-AST training is available to mental health practitioners who want to deliver the programme.

Licence Requirements

There is no license requirement

Start-up Costs

Start-up costs include one-off purchase of the IPT-AST practitioners’ guide at $45.95. A highly recommended 1.5 – 2 days practitioner training costs $2000-$3000, dependent on trainer fees and travel costs. Training can be delivered to a group of practitioners, and the number of practitioners in the group can vary. Programme sessions review (to enhance fidelity in programme delivery), and implementation consultation are charged at $100-$150/ hour.

Building Staff Competency

Qualifications Required

IPT-AST is delivered by master level mental health practitioners, who have experience working with children and young people. This includes child psychologists, child psychiatrists, social workers, and school counsellors. A background in interpersonal psychotherapy is not necessary, but can be helpful.

Training Requirements

Training prior to delivering IPT-AST is highly recommended for practitioners who want to deliver the programme to adolescents. Training is required for practitioners who want to become IPT-AST consultants or trainers. Practitioners receive 1.5 days to 2 full days of training which includes IPT-AST techniques and strategies; session by session demonstration; and role-play and modelling. To become trainers, practitioners attend an additional one day training focused on training and consultation. They also receive support when they initially start to deliver trainings and consultation to other practitioners. Training is delivered by programme developer or other IPT-AST accredited trainers.

Supervision Requirements

Consultation is recommended for practitioners delivering the training to families, and is required for practitioners who want to become trainers or consultants. It takes the form of a 30 minute weekly phone consultation for all 10 programme sessions delivered. This weekly consultation is provided to practitioners when they deliver their first and second IPT-AST groups. Practitioners also have 50% of their delivered sessions reviewed by IPT-AST consultant. Consultation is provided by programme developer, IPT-AST accredited supervisor, or IPT-AST accredited trainer.

Theory of Change

Interpersonal Psychotherapy – Adolescent Skills Training (IPT-AST) is based on Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Adolescents (IPT-A) programme, and is guided by attachment theory, interpersonal theory and social theory. This is evident in the programme recognition that depression occurs in an interpersonal context.  It is also evident in the programmes’ core goal of reducing distress by building skills needed to improve relationships.

Values

Interpersonal Psychotherapy – Adolescent Skills Training (IPT-AST) is a manualised, preventive programme delivered to adolescents (13-17 years) with elevated depression symptoms. The programme is designed to reduce their susceptibility to developing depression, and reduce depressive symptoms. It is typically delivered within in a school setting, but can also be delivered in out-patient clinic settings.

• Is your organisation looking to provide an intervention that helps reduce adolescents’ susceptibility to developing depression, and reduce depressive symptoms?

Priorities

• Is your organisations’ priority aimed at delivering an intervention that addresses depression in adolescents?
• Would an intervention that addresses a range of behavioural and emotional problems better suit your organisation, or should the focus of the intervention be depression?
• Would an intervention that can be delivered within the school setting be a priority for your organisation?

Existing Initiatives

• Does your agency have existing programmes designed to reduce susceptibility to depression and depressive symptoms?
• Do existing initiatives focus specifically on adolescents with depression or do they address different types of emotional and behavioural problems?
• Are the existing initiatives effective? Do they fit your current and anticipated future requirements? Are they delivered in the school setting or other settings?
• Do the existing initiatives address similar outcomes as IPT-AST? Are there components within IPT-AST that are not met by existing programmes?

Workforce

Interpersonal Psychotherapy – Adolescent Skills Training (IPT-AST) is delivered by masters’ level mental health practitioners, who have experience working with adolescents. These include child psychologists, child psychiatrists, social workers, and school counsellors. One or two practitioners can deliver the programme to adolescents. Practitioner training prior to programme delivery is highly recommended but is required for practitioners who want to be become consultants or trainers.

• Does your organisation have practitioners with relevant qualification and experience, who are interested in learning and delivering this programme?
• Can your organisation support practitioner training? Will your organisation train practitioners as IPT-AST trainers or consultants?
• How many adolescents will your organisation support in the first year? Based on this number, how many practitioners will require training?

Technology Support

IPT-AST programme fidelity is assessed by review of recorded individual and group sessions.

• Can your organisation provide the technology for practitioners to record programme sessions for review by IPT-AST Consultant?

Administrative Support

IPT-AST is a manualised intervention typically delivered in the school setting, but can also be delivered in out-patient clinic settings. Practitioner training is highly recommended. 

• How will your organisation identify adolescents that may benefit from this programme?
• Does your organisation have space/room for practitioner training?
• In what setting will this programme be delivered? Does your organisation have the space/ room to deliver the programme in chosen setting?
• Can your organisation make available all the administrative materials required to deliver the programme in the chosen setting (e.g. photocopied materials, binders)?

Financial Support

Start-up costs include one-off purchase of the IPT-AST practitioners’ guide at $45.95. Practitioner training costs $2000-$3000, dependent on trainer fees and travel costs. Training can be delivered to a group of practitioners, and the number of practitioners in a group can vary. Sessions review and implementation consultation costs $100-$150/ hour.

• How many practitioners will deliver this programme within your organisation? Can the training costs, manual costs, session review costs, and consultation costs be financially supported?

Comparable Population

Interpersonal Psychotherapy – Adolescent Skills Training (IPT-AST) is typically delivered to adolescents (13-17 years) with elevated depression symptoms. The programme is designed to reduce their susceptibility to developing depression, and reduce depressive symptoms.

• Is this comparable to the population your organisation would like to serve?
• Has your organisation identified adolescents who may benefit from this programme?

Desired Outcome

IPT-AST delivery is associated with significant improvements in depressive symptoms/ depression scores and overall functioning. Evidence was obtained from two RCTs that included adolescents with mean ages 14.01 and 14.43 years.

• Are the above outcomes priorities for your organisation? Are there other outcomes that your organisation would like to achieve which are outside the premise of IPT-AST?
• Does your organisation have other systems in place that effectively and efficiency address the above outcomes?