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Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.43.9.885

In an open pilot study, 23 depressed adults infected with human immunodeficiency virus were treated using interpersonal therapy. Twenty subjects recovered from depression after a mean of 16 sessions. The authors discuss six aspects of interpersonal therapy that make it useful with depressed HlV-infected persons: psychoeducation about the sick role; a here-and-now framework; formulation of problems from an interpersonal perspective; exploration of options for changing dysfunctional behavior patterns; identification of focused interpersonal problem areas (grief, role transition, interpersonal disputes, and interpersonal deficits); and the confidence therapists gain from a systematic approach to problem formulation and treatment. Results suggest that mental health professionals should consider interpersonal therapy as a treatment for depressed HIV-positive patients.

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