ABSTRACT
Introduction Disputes, arguments, disagreements, and differences of opinion are intrinsic to all human relationships – the ‘seasoning,’ so to speak, of human life. At times, more piquant lifeseasonings may lead to problems. Interpersonal Disputes may be utilized as a Problem Area in Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) when they are relevant to the patient’s acute distress. They should first be identified in the Assessment/Initial sessions, then collaboratively determined to be a focus of treatment during the Interpersonal Formulation. As with all of the Problem Areas, ‘Interpersonal Dispute’ is not a diagnosis. It is simply a shorthand way of describing the interpersonal issues involved in the patient’s acute distress, and a way of maintaining focus over the course of treatment.
