What is IPSRT?

Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) is designed to help people with mood disorders improve their symptoms by understanding and working with their biological and social rhythms. It is an evidence-based therapy that emphasizes techniques to improve medication adherence, manage stressful life events, and reduce disruptions in their social rhythms or daily routines. It addresses underlying disturbances in biologic rhythms common to individuals with mood disorders by helping them develop more regular routines, thereby improving mood. IPSRT also teaches patients skills that help them protect against the development of future episodes.

IPSRT developer Ellen Frank describes the treatment’s origins at the 1990  conference for the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association (NDMDA, now the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance).

Our Goal

A major goal of this website is to disseminate IPSRT, providing resources to clinicians wishing to learn the IPSRT model, as well as to provide additional learning for clinicians already trained in IPSRT. Some patients and caregivers may find the website useful to learn more about IPSRT, but it is not intended as a self-help resource.

 

Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) was conceived in a single day; actually, in a single flash of recognition on July 14, 1990.