Preventing Adolescent Depression ─ Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training

Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training (IPT-AST) is a program that teaches communication and interpersonal problem-solving skills to improve relationships and prevent the development of depression in adolescents. IPT-AST was developed to be delivered in schools and other community settings where adolescents are most likely to receive services, with the hope that IPT-AST can help prevent depression and other problem behaviors before they become more severe.

Preventing Adolescent Depression: Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training provides a detailed description of the program to guide mental health practitioners to implement IPT-AST. Session-by-session descriptions specify the structure and content of each session. Examples of how group leaders can discuss specific topics are provided throughout the book, and the appendix includes session outlines, communication notecards, cue cards, and more. Chapters also outline key issues related to implementation of IPT-AST, including selecting adolescents to participate in group; conducting IPT-AST in schools, primary care offices, mental health clinics, and other diverse settings; working with adolescents at varying levels of risk for depression; and dealing with common clinical issues. Finally, the book outlines the research on this depression prevention program.Preventing Adolescent Depression is appropriate for a wide variety of mental health practitioners including psychologists, social workers, and school counselors.

Jami F. Young, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at Rutgers University. Dr. Young developed Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training (IPT-AST), a depression prevention program for adolescents. Dr. Young has trained and supervised clinicians in IPT-AST, as well as in interpersonal psychotherapy for the treatment of depression. Her research examines the efficacy of depression prevention programs and risk and protective factors for youth depression.

Laura Mufson, PhD, is a Professor of Medical Psychology in Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and Director of the Department of Clinical Psychology at New York State Psychiatric Institute. In addition, she is Director of Clinical Child Psychology in Child Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. She is the developer of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Adolescents (IPT-A) and has published extensively on interpersonal psychotherapy and its adaptations for treating youth in diverse settings.

Christie M. Schueler, PhD, is a clinical psychologist who has served as a group leader and project coordinator for two NIMH-funded studies of IPT-AST at Rutgers University. She has worked in academic and hospital settings with children, adolescents, and adults diagnosed with depression as well as a variety of other disorders. Dr. Schueler has extensive experience running IPT-AST groups, and has provided IPT-AST training and supervision to psychology graduate students and community clinicians.