Effectiveness of interpersonal psychotherapy for community living depressed women involved with the justice system.

Background: Despite the prevalence of depression among women in the justice system, and its potentially significant consequences, there is a dearth of studies investigating psychological treatments for depression in this context, especially outside prison.

Aims: Our aim was to gather preliminary data on whether individual interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is an acceptable and effective treatment for depression in women at an early stage in the justice system.

Method: In this pilot study, IPT was offered to 24 depressed women following their first or second contact with the justice system.