On July 9 and 10, 2022, the online international conference International Online Conference on Application and Progress of Interpersonal Psychotherapy in Treating Adolescent Depression was successfully held by The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (FAHZU), in collaboration with Zhejiang Society for Neuroscience, and Psychological Consultation and Psychotherapy Industry Association of Zhejiang Province. This is the first international conference that is approved by the China’s Ministry of Education in this discipline in China. 

The conference invited 45 domestic and international experts from the US, UK, Canada, Hong Kong, and mainland of China to participate in a variety of activities including keynote lectures, seminars and case studies. Over 160 participants attended the conference which covered multiple sub-areas, with 20 keynote lectures on various topics. By building an international platform for the exchange of frontier information and research advances, this conference aimed to make its contribution in comprehensive decision-making in the psychological treatment of adolescent depression. 

The conference was co-chaired by Prof. HU Shaohua, director of FAHZU Psychiatry Department, and Prof. HUANG Manli, deputy director of FAHZU Psychiatry Department and president of the Chinese Chapter of International Society for Interpersonal Psychotherapy. 

The conference started at 8:00 a.m. on July 9, when the chairs introduced the addressing speakers: Prof. LU Lin, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of Peking University Sixth Hospital; Prof. LIANG Tingbo, chairman of FAHZU; Porf. LUO Jianhong, former vice principal of Zhejiang University and chairman of Zhejiang Society for Neuroscience; and Prof. Xu Yi, president of Psychological Consultation and Psychotherapy Industry Association of Zhejiang Province.

In the welcome remarks, Prof. LIANG Tingbo spoke highly of the two chairs, who contacted , Prof. Myrna Weissman, the founder of IPT, introduced IPT into China and facilitated its development. They carried out relevant training, education, scientific research and clinical application, and established the Chinese chapter of International Society for Interpersonal Psychotherapy, with Prof. HUANG Manli as the first president. Prof. LIANG said they not only made great contributions to psychotherapy, but also started a new wave of psychotherapy in China.

Prof. LU Lin, emphasized that adolescent mental health is an important public health issue that cannot be ignored. He mentioned Prof. HUANG Manli had been promoting the development of IPT in recent years in collaboration withmany domestic experts. They translated treatment manuals, conducted a series of training for Chinese interpersonal psychotherapists. He also highly praised the experts in the field of mental health and psychology from all over China.

Prof. LUO Jianhong, stated that this conference promoted the integration of basic neuroscience research with neuropsychiatric diseases, which cultivated a new environment and created new opportunities for clinical conversion applications. Adolescents are the future of the country and healthy psychological and personality developmentsare the foundation for their growth and success. It is highly necessary to provide safe and effective depression interventions for adolescents. He compared this conference to a cornerstone to provide more professional technical tools for depression intervention for adolescents.

Prof. XU Yi, introduced IPT as an internationally recognized treatment method with reliable research and clinical evidence. He recognized that the introduction and application of IPT at FAHZU would substantially promote the development of psychological counseling and psychotherapy. The industry association would also continue to support and actively promote the communication and dissemination of IPT in China.

The first two sessions of the conference were presented by Prof. Myrna Weissman, founder of IPT and current president of the International Society for Interpersonal Psychotherapy, and Prof. John Markowitz from Columbia University. Prof. Weissman gave a speech on development of IPT over the world. Prof. Markowitz introduced IPT as an evidence-based therapy and the development of ISIPT.

Later, Prof. Paula Ravitz, professor at the University of Toronto, gave a speech on the theory background and attachment in IPT. Prof. Meredith Gunlicks-Stoessel from University of Minnesota, talked about interpersonal psychotherapy in adolescent depression. These two talks were hosted by Prof. ZHENG Wanhong from West Virginia University.

Dr. Roslyn Law from Anna Freud National Centre, president of the International Society for Interpersonal PsychotherapyUK Chapter, presentedmentalization and case formulation of IPT.

From July 9 to July 10, IPT experts introduced the framework and techniques of IPT for every stage. In the three thematic seminars, FAHZU psychotherapists WANG Zhong and HU Chanchan provided three detailed case demonstrations. Prof. LUO Yanli, CHEN Qiaozhen, WANG Zheng and ZHOU Xiaoyi, commented and analyzed from the perspectives of association of emotional change and interpersonal events as well as case conceptualization and design of treatment framework. Prof. KANG Chuanyuan, ZHANG Lujia, HU Chanchan and WANG Zhong discussed the impact of parent-child conflict and mentalization on the efficacy of IPT for adolescents. Prof. XU Hua, CAI Wen, TANG Luhan and CHEN Jingkai, probed into the impact of relationship ending on adolescents' emotions and conversion strategies for poor treatment outcomes.

With over 160 participants, including domestic and international professionals in psychology and psychiatry as well as psychology enthusiasts, the conference focused on the international frontier, with a strong academic atmosphere and lively discussions, together bringing a feast to the all the attendees. It aimed at promoting the development of IPT in China, improving clinical practice and evidence-based research, as well as increasing public attention to adolescent mental health.

Source：the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine