Laura Mufson – författare

Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training (IPT-AST) is a program that teaches communication and interpersonal problem-solving skills to improve relationships and prevent the development of depression in adolescents. IPT-AST was developed to be delivered in schools and other community settings where adolescents are most likely to receive services, with the hope that IPT-AST can help prevent depression and other problem behaviors before they become more severe.Preventing Adolescent Depression: Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training provides a detailed description of the program to guide mental health practitioners to implement IPT-AST. Session-by-session descriptions specify the structure and content of each session. Examples of how group leaders can discuss specific topics are provided throughout the book, and the appendix includes session outlines, communication notecards, cue cards, and more. Chapters also outline key issues related to implementation of IPT-AST, including selecting adolescents to participate in group; conducting IPT-AST in schools, primary care offices, mental health clinics, and other diverse settings; working with adolescents at varying levels of risk for depression; and dealing with common clinical issues. Finally, the book outlines the research on this depression prevention program. Preventing Adolescent Depression is appropriate for a wide variety of mental health practitioners including psychologists, social workers, and school counselors.

Depression is a recurrent, debilitating and sometimes fatal disorder that may first effect children between the ages of 9 and 12. Preadolescent depression is an important public health concern because it is a "gateway" condition that increases the risk for recurrent depression into adolescence and adulthood, particularly when there is a strong family history of mood disorders. The preadolescent period presents a window of opportunity for early psychosocial intervention for depressive disorders and for decreasing risk factors associated with recurrence, namely difficulties in relationships with family members and friends. Addressing and treating depressive disorders in preadolescents has the potential to be extremely successful given the dramatic increase in rates of depression that occur in adolescence. Family-Based Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Preadolescents is a psychosocial intervention that aims to reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms among preadolescents and to provide them with skills to improve interpersonal relationships. Parents are systematically involved in all stages of the preteen's treatment to provide support and model positive communication and problem solving skills. The Initial Phase of treatment addresses psychoeducation about preadolescent depression, challenges in parenting a depressed preadolescent, and appropriate expectations for their child's behavior and performance at this time. The Middle Phase of treatment outlines ways for clinicians to present FB-IPT skills to both the preteen and parent. The Termination Phase focuses on consolidating skills, addressing prevention strategies, and identifying when to seek treatment for recurrent depression.

Depression is a recurrent, debilitating and sometimes fatal disorder that may first effect children between the ages of 9 and 12. Preadolescent depression is an important public health concern because it is a "gateway" condition that increases the risk for recurrent depression into adolescence and adulthood, particularly when there is a strong family history of mood disorders. The preadolescent period presents a window of opportunity for early psychosocial intervention for depressive disorders and for decreasing risk factors associated with recurrence, namely difficulties in relationships with family members and friends. Addressing and treating depressive disorders in preadolescents has the potential to be extremely successful given the dramatic increase in rates of depression that occur in adolescence. Family-Based Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Preadolescents is a psychosocial intervention that aims to reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms among preadolescents and to provide them with skills to improve interpersonal relationships. Parents are systematically involved in all stages of the preteen''s treatment to provide support and model positive communication and problem solving skills. The Initial Phase of treatment addresses psychoeducation about preadolescent depression, challenges in parenting a depressed preadolescent, and appropriate expectations for their child''s behavior and performance at this time. The Middle Phase of treatment outlines ways for clinicians to present FB-IPT skills to both the preteen and parent. The Termination Phase focuses on consolidating skills, addressing prevention strategies, and identifying when to seek treatment for recurrent depression.