Reflective Function as a Mediator of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)

Our recent randomized controlled trial of psychotherapies for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) showed that Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) benefitted patients. The mechanism of action for IPT is unclear; unlike most PTSD therapies, it does not work through exposure to trauma reminders. This assessment study will assess Symptom-Specific Reflective Function, a measure of emotional awareness of one's PTSD symptoms, as a potential mediator of IPT, capitalizing on naturalistic treatment of military veterans with PTSD at Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute.