An interpersonal group program for depression and work stress (IPT-Work) versus supportive psychotherapy: a multicentre, randomised, controlled trial

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Depressive disorders are highly prevalent at the workplace and have a major impact on social and occupational functioning and on sick leave of depressed employees. Work related stress has been described as the most common cause of depression by patients. Psychosocial interventions for employees suffering from work related stress have received increasing attention in the past few years. However, there is only very little research on specific work focused approaches for depressed individuals. Since stress at work is driven largely by psychosocial factors, an additional novel focus of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) as an evidence-based depression treatment, namely "work stress" (IPT-Work), was conceptualized for the treatment of depression and work stress. As work usually takes place in an interpersonal context, IPT-Work addresses psychosocial stressors such as interpersonal conflicts at work, role stress, low social support, and the reduction of stressful working conditions. Pilot data for this concept show first encouraging results compared to treatment as usual. The goal of this project is to compare the efficacy of a 10-session IPT-Work group program with nonspecific supportive group therapy. Overall, 144 patients with depression and work stress will be investigated. It is expected that IPT-Work is more effective in reducing depressive symptoms and in increasing work ability compared to supportive psychotherapy three months after the end of treatment. The IPT-Work program may thus contribute to a decrease of work stress, an increase of work satisfaction, and reduced sickness absence in depressed individuals at the workplace.