Interpersonal psychotherapy in the Netherlands

This chapter examines interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) in the Netherlands, which was first introduced during a 2-day workshop by John Markowitz in 1994. Implementation of IPT in the Netherlands went relatively smoothly. The inclusion of IPT for depression as one of first-line psychotherapeutic treatments in the national guideline greatly supported further acceptance and implementation of IPT. To stimulate implementation of IPT in daily practice, basic 3-day introductory courses were offered in different parts of the country in the curricula of postdoctoral training institutions for psychologists, psychotherapists, and to some extent psychiatrists. Subsequently, these initiatives stimulated the founding of the Dutch Society for Interpersonal Therapy in 2008. The society's major goal is to transfer IPT knowledge and experience in the Netherlands. The chapter then reflects on the future of IPT in the Netherlands.