Mediators of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Adolescents on Outcomes in Latinos: The Role of Peer and Family Interpersonal Functioning

• Published in: Journal of Latina/o Psychology 2017-11, Vol.5 (4), p.248-260
• Main Authors: Reyes-Portillo, Jazmin A, McGlinchey, Eleanor L, Yanes-Lukin, Paula K, Turner, J. Blake, Mufson, Laura
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent Psychotherapy; Family Relations; Female; Human; Interpersonal Psychotherapy; Latinos/Latinas; Major Depression; Male; Peer Relations; Suicidal Ideation; Treatment Outcomes
• ISSN: 2168-1678; 2578-8086; 2168-1678; 2163-0070; 2578-8094
• DOI: 10.1037/lat0000096

Peer and family interpersonal functioning were examined as mediators of the impact of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Adolescents (IPT-A; Mufson, Dorta, Moreau, & Weissman, 2004) on depression and suicidal ideation among Latino youth. Only youth self-identifying as Latino (n = 50) were included in the analyses. The majority were female (86%) with a mean age of 14.58 (SD = 1.91). The current sample was drawn from the intent to treat sample of a clinical trial examining the effectiveness of IPT-A as compared with treatment as usual (TAU; Mufson, Dorta, Wickramaratne et al., 2004). Youth were randomly assigned to receive IPT-A or TAU delivered by school-based mental health clinicians. Assessments, completed at baseline and at Weeks 4, 8, and 12 (or at early termination), included self-report measures of depression and interpersonal functioning as well as clinician-administered measures of depression. Multilevel modeling indicated that IPT-A led to greater improvement in interpersonal functioning with family and peers. Improved family and peer interpersonal functioning emerged as significant partial mediators of the relationship between IPT-A and depression. Only improved family interpersonal functioning emerged as a significant partial mediator of the relationship between IPT-A and suicidal ideation. However, this indirect effect was small, suggesting that most of the benefit of IPT-A for suicidal ideation appears to proceed through a pathway other than family interpersonal functioning. These results suggest that the impact of IPT-A on depressive symptoms is partially mediated by family and peer interpersonal functioning and contributes to our understanding of the mechanisms of IPT-A. Examinar el funcionamiento interpersonal con compañeros y con familiares como mediadores de los efectos de la psicoterapia interpersonal para adolescentes deprimidos (IPT-A; Mufson, Dorta, Moreau, & Weissman, 2004) en jóvenes latinos con depresión e ideación suicida. Solamente los jóvenes que se identificaron como latinos (n = 50) se incluyeron en los análisis. La mayoría fue feminina (86%) con edad media de 14.58 (SD = 1.91). La muestra actual se extrajo de la muestra del tipo intención de tratar de un ensayo clínico examinando la eficacia de IPT-A en comparación con el tratamiento habitual (TAU; Mufson, Dorta, Wickramaratne et al., 2004). Los jóvenes fueron asignados aleatoriamente para recibir IPT-A o TAU proporcionado por terapeutas dentro de los programas escolare