Interpersonal counseling versus active listening in the treatment of mild depression: a randomized controlled trial.

[Purpose] Healthcare workers, such as physical therapists, need to be equipped in dealing with patients' psychological problems. The three-session interpersonal counseling (three-session IPC) is a constructed counseling method that can be performed even by non-mental health professionals. This study examined the efficacy of the three-session IPC for treating depression. Immediate efficacy and efficacy up to 12 weeks post-intervention were examined. [Participants and Methods] In this randomized controlled trial of the two groups, one group (n=24) received the three-session IPC therapy (IPC group) while the other (n=24) received three sessions of active listening (active listening group). Depression was assessed using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) at baseline, post-intervention, and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. [Results] There was a significant difference in total SDS scores between the IPC and active listening groups from baseline to 4 weeks after counseling, although no significant differences were observed at other time points. [Conclusion] The three-session IPC may be effective for 4 weeks after counseling. However, further studies are warranted in this regard.

Depression Among University Students With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms: A Study of Interpersonal Counseling.

OBJECTIVE: University students with symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often experience depression. This study examined whether interpersonal counseling (IPC) could be an effective treatment for depression among students with ADHD symptoms. METHODS: Participants were assigned to either an IPC (N=5) or control (N=7) group. Depression was assessed by using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) at baseline, postintervention, and at 4-, 8-, and 12-week follow-ups. RESULTS: No significant changes in the SDS total score were observed for either group at each postintervention point. However, the IPC group showed a large effect size at the 4- and 12-week follow-ups. A significant intergroup difference was observed after 4 weeks. No significant intergroup difference was observed after 12 weeks, but there was a large effect size. CONCLUSIONS: IPC appeared to have effects at 4 weeks postintervention. Because this was an exploratory study, further research is necessary.

Increased prefrontal cortex activity on near-infrared spectroscopy after interpersonal counseling in individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

[Purpose] The number of patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has been increasing. These patients show low activity in the prefrontal cortex, which can be improved by pharmacotherapy and neurofeedback training. This exploratory study aimed to examine whether the hemodynamic response in the prefrontal cortex during an inhibition response in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder tendencies increased after interpersonal counseling. [Participants and Methods] Participants (n=5) received three interpersonal counseling sessions. Interpersonal counseling focuses on the patient's current problems and devises specific coping strategies, and it can be performed by healthcare personnel such as physiotherapists. Prefrontal cortex activity during a suppression reaction task was measured by using near-infrared spectroscopy at baseline and post-interpersonal counseling. The outcome was a difference in the oxyhemoglobin level from baseline to post-interpersonal counseling. [Results] The oxyhemoglobin level in the prefrontal cortex significantly increased post-interpersonal counseling. [Conclusion] These results suggested that interpersonal counseling could improve the hemodynamic response in the prefrontal cortex under inhibition in individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder tendencies, suggesting that interpersonal counseling may be effective for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms.

The Effect of Interpersonal Counseling for Subthreshold Depression in Undergraduates: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Subthreshold depression and poor stress coping strategies are major public health problems among undergraduates. Interpersonal counseling (IPC) is a brief structured psychological intervention originally designed for use in primary care to treat depressive patients whose symptoms arose from current life stress. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the efficacy of IPC in treating subthreshold depression and coping strategies among undergraduates in school counseling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out an exploratory randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of IPC with counseling as usual (CAU). Participants were 31 undergraduates exhibiting depression without a psychiatric diagnosis. RESULTS: The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale total score decreased significantly in the IPC group (n = 15; Z = -2.675, p = .007), but not in the CAU group (n = 16). The task-oriented coping score of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations showed a tendency towards a greater increase in the IPC group than in the CAU group (t = 1.919, df = 29, p = .065). CONCLUSIONS: The IPC might be more useful for student counseling because it can teach realistic coping methods and reduce depressive symptoms in a short period. Further studies using more participants are required.

Use of Interpersonal Counseling for Modern Type Depression.

A novel form of depression, called "modern type depression" (MTD), has been increasing in prevalence in Japan. Patients with MTD present with an overt appeal of depressive mood and a desire to be excused from their work duties; as such, this can cause considerable trouble in the workplace. Psychosocial interventions should be primarily considered for the treatment of MTD. Interpersonal counseling (IPC), which has proven effective for treating subthreshold depression, may be effective for MTD. However, IPC is rarely done in Japan. Herein, we report on a successful case of IPC for a woman in her thirties who was about to quit her job due to MTD (diagnosed by the criteria for research use). After IPC, the patient enjoyed good communication with her boss and continued her job without succumbing to her depression. This case suggests that IPC may be effective for MTD in workers and further highlights the benefits of teaching interpersonal communication methods in the workplace.

Effectiveness of Simple Individual Psychoeducation for Bipolar II Disorder.

Several studies have proven the effectiveness of psychoeducation in bipolar II disorder patients; however, simpler psychoeducation is needed in daily medical practice. Therefore, we devised a simple individual psychoeducation program, which involved 20-minute sessions spent reading a textbook aloud in the waiting time before examination. Here, we report a successful case of simple individual psychoeducation with a patient with bipolar II disorder, a 64-year-old woman who had misconceptions surrounding her mood due to 24 years of treatment for depression. Her perception of mood state, particularly mixed state, was dramatically changed, and her quality of life was improved after the simple individual psychoeducation. This case suggests that the simple individual psychoeducation could be effective for bipolar II disorder by improving understanding of the disease and by meeting different individual needs.