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IPT Chapter – Japan

IPT-JAPAN Society of Interpersonal Psychotherapy: A Regional Chapter of ISIPT

Website: ipt-japan.org

About the regional chapter:

In 1997, IPT was introduced to Japan with the translation and publication of the world’s first manual,
“Interpersonal Psychotherapy of Depression,” by Dr. Hiroko Mizushima and her colleagues at Keio
University’s Department of Psychiatry.

In 2007, the IPT study group (currently IPT-JAPAN) was founded by Dr. Hiroko Mizushima.
In 2024, I PT-JAPAN was officially affiliated with ISIPT.

We aim to maintain the high quality of IPT supported by the evidence that I PT researchers have been
developing and cultivating, and expand it to non-English speaking Japan to create a world where people
suffering from mental disorders can receive IPT in Japanese as well as English.

Furthermore, we aim to conduct IPT studies (adapted to Japanese culture, if necessary) in Japan and
through the studies explore the universality of I PT in order to be helpful for IPT therapists who treat
people suffering from mental illnesses around the world.

Contact information: Yuko Toshishige – yuu0323uchi@gmail.com

Officers of the regional chapter:

President: Hiroko Mizushima

Vice President: Keiichiro Adachi

Secretary: Yuko Toshishige

Treasurer: Takayuki lwayama

Other Executive Members: Yasunori Oishi, Masaki Kondo, Mirai So, Hiroko Maekawa

ISIPT certified TRAINERS in the regional group:

  • Hiroko Mizushima, Psychiatrist — hiroko@ah-japan.com
  • Yuko Toshishige, Psychiatrist — yuu0323uchi@gmail.com

ISIPT certified SUPERVISORS in the regional group:

  • Hiroko Mizushima, Psychiatrist — hiroko@ah-japan.com
  • Keiichiro Adachi, Psychologist — adachil 3@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp
  • Masaki Kondo, Psychiatrist — kondo.masaki.mail@gmail.com
  • Mirai So, Psychiatrist — ghh13250@gmail.com
  • Yuko Toshishige, Psychiatrist — yuu0323uchi@gmail.com

Training events for listing

The usual IPT-Japan’s workshop is divided into two parts: an introductory workshop and practical application workshop. In addition, a workshop focusing on role-playing is held.

The introductory workshop

The introductory workshop is a total of 8 hours, including an overview of Dr. Klerman and Dr. Weissman’s IPT philosophy and basic IPT approach, as well as presentations on two cases in which Dr. Mizushima herself performed IPT.

The practical application workshop

The practical application workshop consists of three to four case review sessions using verbatim transcripts in a group supervision format. Cases are reviewed not only for depression, eating disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but also for complex PTSD, prolonged grief disorder, and autism spectrum disorder comorbid depression.

The workshop focusing on role-playing

The workshop focusing on role-playing is held, where Dr. Mizushima takes the role of therapist and the presenter takes the role of patient, learning by role-playing a case that the presenter is struggling with.

As we enter the year 2020, the number of people infected with COVID-19 was increasing in Japan, we were no longer able to hold the face-to-face workshops we have held in the past. In order not to reduce study opportunities for IPT, we, together with Dr. Mizushima, have decided to hold web-based workshops starting in May 2020. COVID-19 forced us to hold the event online. However, by conducting online workshops, we were able to attract more than 100 professionals from all over the country. As a result, more than 1,000 professionals have participated in the introductory sessions to date, including face-toface workshops we held in the past.

Other chapter events for listing:

Following the translation and publication of the world’s first manual, “Interpersonal Psychotherapy of Depression,” Dr. Mizushima translated and published “Comprehensive Guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy” and “Clinician’s Quick Guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy,” followed by the publication of “Clinician’s Introduction Guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy.” Most recently, she translated and published “IPT for PTSD.”

In addition, Dr. Mizushima has published numerous books on IPT for the general public, including “Depression treated by IPT,” “Social Anxiety Disorder treated by IPT,” “Trauma and PTSD treated by IPT,” and “Anorexia Nervosa/Bulimia Nervosa treated by IPT.

Various research projects related to IPT/IPC in Japan are ongoing.