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Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Mindfulness for Treatment of Major Depression With Anxious Distress

Rebecca M. Mahan, Scott A. Swan, Jenny Macfie

Clinical Case Studies April 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1177/1534650118756530 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Case study Case report Peer reviewed
Sample size 1
Population 22-year-old Caucasian female college student with anxious and depressive symptoms and maladaptive coping in the context of an interpersonal dispute
Interventions Mindfulness skills training Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)
Duration 18-session treatment; 1-month follow-up
Topics Depression Meditation
Key findings Reliable change index analyses indicated significant symptom reduction from baseline to final sessions in anxiety, depression, total symptoms, and interpersonal relations, with gradual decreases over the 18-session treatment. A one-month follow-up showed sustained reductions in anxious and depressive symptoms. The authors recommend therapeutic flexibility and combining multiple treatment approaches for comorbid conditions.

Abstract

This single case study examined symptom change in the treatment of a 22-year-old Caucasian female college student presenting with anxious and depressive symptoms and maladaptive coping strategies in the context of an interpersonal dispute. The treatment integrated mindfulness skills training with interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) to treat symptoms of anxiety, depression, overall total symptoms, and relational problems across the 18-session treatment. We assessed symptoms across treatment and analyzed change in symptom severity over time. Reliable change index analyses indicated significant symptom reduction between baseline levels at the start of treatment and the final sessions in all measured symptoms (anxiety, depression, total symptoms, and interpersonal relations), with decreases in symptom severity occurring gradually over the course of treatment. A 1-month follow-up assessment of symptoms indicated sustained reductions in anxious and depressive symptoms since baseline measurements. We discuss recommendations on the importance of therapeutic flexibility in treating comorbid conditions and therapist willingness to combine multiple treatment approaches for better treatment outcomes.

Comparable studies

Other case reports and case series on depression, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Electroconvulsive Therapy, Ketamine, and Esketamine in a Patient with Major Depressive Disorder and Multiple Comorbidities: A Case Report over 10-year Treatment from Adolescence to Adulthood. A patient with treatment-resistant depression and comorbid generalized anxiety... 2025 Case report n = 1
Oral Administration of the NMDA Receptor Antagonist S-Ketamine as Add-On Therapy of Depression: A Case Series Four depressed patients taking standard antidepressants 2009 Case series n = 4
A longitudinal case series of IM ketamine for patients with severe and enduring eating disorders and comorbid treatment‐resistant depression Patients with enduring eating disorders and treatment-resistant depression 2021 Case series n = 4
Effects of intranasal (S)-ketamine on Veterans with co-morbid treatment-resistant depression and PTSD: A retrospective case series Veterans with co-morbid depression and PTSD 2022 Retrospective case series n = 35
Case report: Intramuscular ketamine or intranasal esketamine as a treatment in four patients with major depressive disorder and comorbid anorexia nervosa Patients with anorexia nervosa and a comorbid depressive disorder treated at a private... 2023 Case report n = 4

Citations in the library

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Depression Meditation Anxiety