ABSTRACT
IPT rests on a triad of theoretical underpinnings. The first and most important is attachment theory, which forms the basis for formulating patients’ relationship difficulties and informs clinicians about the modifications they may need to make during the course of therapy. The second, communication theory, describes the ways in which patients’ maladaptive communication patterns may lead to difficulty in their here-and-now interpersonal relationships. Communication is one manifestation of the attachment behavior that occurs in individuals, but it is an extremely important particular in IPT, as it is the point of intervention for many IPT techniques. The third, social theory is the basis for understanding the interpersonal context in which people interact with others, and the effect their social networks have on their interpersonal functioning.
