Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy is a short and focused therapy that helps with feeling sad. It looks at how we interact with others. Made to help with sadness, DIT comes from the growth of ideas in therapy. It uses some old therapy ideas but in a shorter and more organized way.
Psychodynamic Foundation of DIT
Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy is based on the idea that our minds have hidden thoughts and feelings we might not be aware of. It looks at how these hidden things affect the way we think and act in our relationships. Two important ideas in DIT are:
- Hidden Thoughts: DIT, inspired by Freud’s ideas, believes that thoughts and behaviors can be influenced by things we don’t even realize. By exploring these hidden thoughts, we can understand and solve problems in our relationships.
- Feelings from the Past: DIT focuses on something called “transference,” which means we might unconsciously bring feelings from past relationships into our current ones. DIT helps us understand and deal with these old feelings, giving us insight into why we might have similar issues in our present relationships.
DIT vs. Other Therapeutic Approaches
- DIT is different because it has a clear and short plan, unlike regular psychodynamic therapies. It looks at what’s happening now and deals with particular relationship problems causing depression.
- DIT is all about how we relate to others, while some therapies look more at how we relate to ourselves. What makes DIT special is that it directly deals with how our relationships affect our mental health. It pays close attention to the patterns we have in our connections with people and how they influence our well-being.
- DIT combines the advantages of short therapies with understanding how our minds work. It tries to bring positive results in a short time, making it useful for people who want focused help and support.
How Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy Works
Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy is a special kind of therapy that helps people feel better. It’s like having 16 focused talks with someone who cares. Instead of talking about everything, DIT looks at specific problems in relationships that make people feel sad. It’s not like talking about dreams or things from a long time ago; it’s about what’s happening now. Therapists work together with people to understand feelings and how they talk to others. This helps make relationships better. DIT is not like other long talks about feelings; it’s short and helps people of all ages. The goal is to make relationships happier by figuring out and fixing specific problems.
Target Population
Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy is good for people feeling sad, especially if their feelings are affected by how they relate to others. It helps many people, no matter their age or background, making it a flexible way to get better. DIT works well for young people, dealing with the things that make being young tricky.
Studies show it works for all kinds of people, even from different cultures. DIT is structured and focuses on problems in your current relationships, making it a helpful and short-term way to get better.
Efficacy and Research Findings
The proof supporting how well Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy works is strong, especially in treating moderate to severe depression. In a study with 147 patients, DIT in a regular doctor’s office worked better than a less intense treatment and could be compared to cognitive-behavioral treatments. The study showed that DIT was promising for treating major depressive disorder.
Another review of various studies found that dynamic treatments, like DIT, were better than inactive treatments in 75% of comparisons. When compared to other therapies, a study analyzing different treatments for major depressive disorder discovered that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was better than Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) based on one scale but not on another. This suggests that DIT, being a psychodynamic and mentalization-based treatment, is just as effective as other well-known therapies for depression.
Experiences of Young Individuals
It includes different things like knowing how to use technology, talking with friends online, dealing with too much information, and how you feel mentally. For young people, using the internet can be tricky, like keeping things private, handling online bullying, and feeling the need to show a perfect image online. At the same time, Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy can be a chance for learning, being creative, and connecting with people worldwide. Studies on this subject look at how young people deal with and are affected by DIT, showing both good and not-so-good effects.
Competence Frameworks
Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy is organized into five areas of skill, outlining what therapists should know and be able to do to provide ethical and culturally adapted therapy. DIT is a short form of talking therapy designed to help with feeling very down or sad, and it follows proven methods. Therapists who finished a proper DIT training know about how our minds develop, have experienced therapy themselves, and practiced under supervision.
DIT is recognized as one of the ways to help with depression, suggested by the Department of Health, along with other methods like talking therapy for couples and cognitive behavioral therapy. The skill guide for DIT helps therapists be good at their job, making sure they have the right abilities and knowledge to provide helpful and considerate therapy.
DIT vs. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
| DIT | IPT |
| Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy is a kind of therapy that looks at how past experiences and relationship issues affect how we feel and act. It helps people see these patterns and learn to react differently. | Interpersonal Therapy is a short and helpful treatment that looks at how our relationships and feelings are connected. Its goal is to make our social and communication skills better, which can make our mental health feel better too. |
| DIT is a kind of therapy with a plan. It involves doing some tasks outside of the therapy sessions, checking how things are going regularly, and talking a lot with the therapist. | IPT is an organized therapy where you might have tasks to do at home, your progress is regularly checked, and you actively work together with your therapist. |
| DIT is used for moderate to severe depression. | Interpersonal Therapy was first created to help people with major depression. However, recent research has looked into how well it works for other mental health issues. |
| DIT is a psychodynamic and mentalization-based treatment. | IPT is a brief therapy that focuses on developing interpersonal and communication skills. |
| DIT helps individuals recognize behavior patterns and change how they respond. | IPT aims to improve interpersonal and communication skills to help with mental health issues. |
Argument Against Dynamic Interpersonal Theory
Critics of Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy mainly argue within the larger framework of evidence-based practice, which hasn’t fully embraced psychodynamic interventions. Some say DIT’s roots in attachment theory and other psychodynamic theories might not perfectly match the principles of evidence-based practice.
People discuss the disagreement between viewing the therapist as an expert and Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy’s “not-knowing stance,” creating concerns about the therapy. Debates about the differences between interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) and brief dynamic psychotherapy have caused confusion about IPT’s nature and whether it fits under short-term dynamic psychotherapy. This complexity makes it challenging to fully understand Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy and its place among various therapeutic approaches.
