--- title: "PPRNet Clinical summary: Interpersonal Distress as a Criterion for Personalizing Psychotherapy for Depression" description: The director of the Psychotherapy Practice Research Network (PPRNet) is Dr. Giorgio Tasca. Dr. Tasca is an Associate Professor with the School of Psychology, in the Faculty of Social, University of Ottawa. His research focus is on psychotherapy process, mechanisms of change, and outcomes, as well as eating disorders. image: https://collabzium.com/hubfs/iStock-1206150255-1.jpg --- [![FAC_SOCIAL_SCIENCE_HEADER_BAR](https://collabzium.com/hubfs/FAC_SOCIAL_SCIENCE_HEADER_BAR.svg "FAC_SOCIAL_SCIENCE_HEADER_BAR")](https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-social-sciences/) [![Collabzium](https://collabzium.com/hubfs/CollabziumLogoEnglish(Name)-COLOUR.svg "Collabzium")](https://collabzium.com/) - Articles - [Collabzium Guide](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/author/collabzium-guide) - [All articles](https://collabzium.com/en/articles) - Research - [Chairs and Labs](https://collabzium.com/en/chair-and-labs) - [About](https://collabzium.com/collabcrew) [Subscribe](https://20500402.hubspotpagebuilder.com/subscribe-now) [Subscribe](https://20500402.hubspotpagebuilder.com/subscribe-now) [PPRNET](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/tag/pprnet) # PPRNet Clinical summary: Interpersonal Distress as a Criterion for Personalizing Psychotherapy for Depression [Dr. Giorgio Tasca](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/author/dr-giorgio-tasca) calendar icon Jun 09, 2025 · Reading time 1 min read [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-interpersonal-distress-as-a-criterion-for-personalizing-psychotherapy-for-depression&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-interpersonal-distress-as-a-criterion-for-personalizing-psychotherapy-for-depression&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-interpersonal-distress-as-a-criterion-for-personalizing-psychotherapy-for-depression&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-interpersonal-distress-as-a-criterion-for-personalizing-psychotherapy-for-depression&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) Over many years, psychotherapy researchers have tried to enhance treatment outcomes for depression by matching patients to treatments (e.g., CBT or psychodynamic) with minimal success. This approach is not practical because most therapists are not trained in many treatment orientations. More recently, some have suggested identifying a single meaningful patient variable that might be used to indicate what to focus on within a therapeutic orientation to improve outcomes. A candidate patient variable is [interpersonal problems,](https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcollabzium.com%2Fe3t%2FCtc%2FRJ%2B113%2Fd2qbk404%2FVW-CZK3MBppDW3RsWL_3rrq_qW56dvtZ5xp2FXN2glj0T3lYMRW6N1vHY6lZ3mdW64kSfK7JlSFwW2t7S1623GYZxF1VGF-WZQznW1_qsgb12379VW4wSPbK7_KncsVWMC4Q49cyhgW6c20S_6TVvP3W5-qm1g1h2jvnW7sY3fG90hYSdW7n3szx38gVbMW6k8zF86G7z5gW1zP2Cc7RsWf8W1p_Kf33g7JxMW1rl7sm2DT0kRW818_Nz6d6cbGW83RJBG5vlWY_N1l-Cr31rXpCW40DGHX6_tp2VN5X2Rz6n70fDW6qnhQP79TybRW7WkkXf2sH6GWW8cBqGL1Hr8mMf62Xq2404&data=05%7C02%7Csbake3%40uottawa.mail.onmicrosoft.com%7Cb347e14a07c54799635008dda3661906%7Cd41fdab17e154cfdb5fa7200e54deb6b%7C1%7C0%7C638846381097577019%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=5Eyq%2Fn2xAl%2BfWQ%2F4xkKXHBR3VlNkzpZUqcWA%2BUyc9ng%3D&reserved=0) which are known to be related to depressive experiences and to predict psychotherapy [outcomes](https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcollabzium.com%2Fe3t%2FCtc%2FRJ%2B113%2Fd2qbk404%2FVW-CZK3MBppDW3RsWL_3rrq_qW56dvtZ5xp2FXN2glj0z3lYMRW69sMD-6lZ3kDW34Sypl7zfzhVW7Tzx9D405hxvVDvWFs1GWg09W7S_yn01cSmTgW3hRMcF6GJhpYW6cwGT-6SWgVmW9cytFZ9fW7kXW3NTh2h95N1QPVHkt385mfrW9N5ngYSKBb817W2jCZRM855tphW3wZmPj6dRX4RW45C8X050GxvvW2Zv-5z1dX5C6W7WDMSX4KCsrvW8QP70_157RSFW3XpqNK8cRQRlW4JZFF21z2BpRW8_3BGv7brp38W5zpncp7b0_yQf6Rdz5v04&data=05%7C02%7Csbake3%40uottawa.mail.onmicrosoft.com%7Cb347e14a07c54799635008dda3661906%7Cd41fdab17e154cfdb5fa7200e54deb6b%7C1%7C0%7C638846381097591237%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ZeTJGw%2BH04uAndvpS5u9vPKSlhW4thIJ0%2FUUJs0356w%3D&reserved=0). Patients with higher interpersonal distress tend to have a worse response to therapy and a weaker therapeutic [alliance](https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcollabzium.com%2Fe3t%2FCtc%2FRJ%2B113%2Fd2qbk404%2FVW-CZK3MBppDW3RsWL_3rrq_qW56dvtZ5xp2FXN2glj0z3lYMRW69sMD-6lZ3kKW7PzVqc5ptt2hW5dDY4X4gbVFsW95NR575nsMP-W8tLBqH5kzBC7W8Rnn628JzybBW1rTYP93Rl5ZMW3f1j5Y6hPc74W1SMhkq3RfgLhW2n2Cyx50kMBmN7HmC3HpZRT4W2wdd3Y1dC7T_N4TTMx2z429lW3456bc664pMhN1GDkBwyflVnW63BkjX78t-Y7W433kPb1_60VVW5BbsHJ67pNlSW15_NGc1gMH_zW1j5lHs8r-blZW8JpsjZ1WhPpnf2Sx6M804&data=05%7C02%7Csbake3%40uottawa.mail.onmicrosoft.com%7Cb347e14a07c54799635008dda3661906%7Cd41fdab17e154cfdb5fa7200e54deb6b%7C1%7C0%7C638846381097604756%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=0lOF3%2F82Q2c%2FP3EycjcyW9pOlmaVV9HozKGZ1%2FLxD3Y%3D&reserved=0). However, there is also evidence that those with more interpersonal problems may do better with psychodynamic therapy that addresses maladaptive interpersonal patterns in the therapeutic relationship (i.e., [transference-focused](https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcollabzium.com%2Fe3t%2FCtc%2FRJ%2B113%2Fd2qbk404%2FVW-CZK3MBppDW3RsWL_3rrq_qW56dvtZ5xp2FXN2glj0T3lYMRW6N1vHY6lZ3n-W2mcNLn4_Fn_6W3ZnBMh1ZKg0qW3VbCnd3s4D1WW16KY9r6wRtl3W3KsGP77P78mqW7dnM3X7lMQmJW20lChN4fjQ-MW5KlTGk1zfpFVW1fRSYj8fYyVGW3G1Y6r5wXPMSW6BBGxq6cTbkJW8HxVFP88xGggVD5Sqh306_9ZW5t9Nrr579hHJVXBHC06yp4GmW7D0hZD2Z_vw6W7c4xgK1m8DmSW7MGhRQ5b_gxkW7PJB-l5ZxhPDN2G9f9KlxJs_TCyDL2BsBFtW3h-5193SgSv6f68g__g04&data=05%7C02%7Csbake3%40uottawa.mail.onmicrosoft.com%7Cb347e14a07c54799635008dda3661906%7Cd41fdab17e154cfdb5fa7200e54deb6b%7C1%7C0%7C638846381097618009%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=IE%2BSII%2FRV5UuWV%2FDDigRWJm39iKd2Iv0cUIGIq6BdLA%3D&reserved=0)) versus a psychodynamic treatment that does not focus on transference. In this study, Gomez Penedo and colleagues randomly assigned 100 patients with depression to receive [Supportive Expressive Therapy (SET)](https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcollabzium.com%2Fe3t%2FCtc%2FRJ%2B113%2Fd2qbk404%2FVW-CZK3MBppDW3RsWL_3rrq_qW56dvtZ5xp2FXN2glj0T3lYMRW6N1vHY6lZ3pvW92mqXL3cZlK3W1hpDhM3FCDxZW99xFvQ6xhD88W6cQBFP7rQhFgN6vGF9zmzzNKW1qSCP_3hRNBTW7TLc0W1FdCR2W90V3DY6BxTS4W8-p9vY4_R8-HW3xM2ky8D1ZRqW7RPlhZ2Dhnh3W27bg7C7m_5tTW82Znwx9byVBXW6SRzlg4nPxfGW1VGN2c5F74HxW4ggkVD84J87YW7XgD2878bfkyW5ZyKZ54R72DGW3f5HHC48rvtZW1Tt4-W3MNW1CW4lsfNg7sbz5xW6ZzmLw15hWkWf2W64W004&data=05%7C02%7Csbake3%40uottawa.mail.onmicrosoft.com%7Cb347e14a07c54799635008dda3661906%7Cd41fdab17e154cfdb5fa7200e54deb6b%7C1%7C0%7C638846381097630785%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=gGVihxCw%2FuE3BZCZLZJdHmcgKbCjQImksQoAvLfLOfc%3D&reserved=0) that focused on maladaptive relational patterns or Supportive Therapy (ST) that was mostly empathic and validating in nature without a significant interpersonal focus. As predicted, those patients with higher interpersonal problems at the beginning of treatment did significantly better in SET than ST. In addition, those with higher interpersonal problems who received SET versus ST showed greater improvements in the therapeutic alliance during treatment. ## Practice Implications This study suggests that personalizing treatments to patients based on their pre-treatment level of interpersonal problems leads to added benefit for the patient. A patient with greater interpersonal problems would benefit most from a therapy that explicitly helps patients to improve their self-understanding through the interpretation of interpersonal themes in the therapeutic relationship and their lives in general. These patients may benefit more from gaining greater insight into their relational patterns and emotional responses, including focusing on the therapeutic relationship and repairing [alliance ruptures](https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcollabzium.com%2Fe3t%2FCtc%2FRJ%2B113%2Fd2qbk404%2FVW-CZK3MBppDW3RsWL_3rrq_qW56dvtZ5xp2FXN2glj0z3lYMRW69sMD-6lZ3kZVVNN4f7vBd-nW86VFd6864BhXW6TrywX4V8nkpW1GDSnK8cwyjXW25tHw33DnqLGW4pck6L8V89YYW3grqWS3SXlXNW5YnDRy1Rlj_4W5VNQxL8F6k5fN5JkGhJ4lHZtW6SXJs44GC_XqW4WJg-m6gMMF3W2tHvh453-XXfN56PHb0-522bW4gmqXg2j_67HW70V-8s40-Ww2W4qSfDP3XlWdcW7srlSj1d_0nqW8MymF-2LGtnsW348THp4Sgh26dlZ4Sb04&data=05%7C02%7Csbake3%40uottawa.mail.onmicrosoft.com%7Cb347e14a07c54799635008dda3661906%7Cd41fdab17e154cfdb5fa7200e54deb6b%7C1%7C0%7C638846381097644060%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=4eQyGgn0sh7ZSQeREe6qM8Id7cQa%2FZcA3ZkNb76THmk%3D&reserved=0). > Gómez Penedo, J. M., Peysachov, G., Babl, A., & Zilcha-Mano, S. (2025). Interpersonal distress as a criterion for personalizing depression therapy. *Journal of Counseling Psychology.* Advance online publication. [https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cou0000785](https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcollabzium.com%2Fe3t%2FCtc%2FRJ%2B113%2Fd2qbk404%2FVW-CZK3MBppDW3RsWL_3rrq_qW56dvtZ5xp2FXN2glj0z3lYMRW69sMD-6lZ3nRW2vL08l6WHk78N3XsZjM-VwCFW1n1rs524VmlSW6KD3687G0YjbW6L4nJl8cWw35W1yV2hb5ryWmRW4wFcgb752KljW85PPK66Rd5dPW8CKTGQ3C5NjYW5cCKkz8sS999W2LQwhY3YHSQMW1NlBs28lxr1dVDKL732pBVK3V4bSkZ8vsZmhVXC4Kz49l_x4W6pQgpq5QYHZTW7Tkrpw7lCTCXW3cn9lP4lC6hbVTxsZw6QrMRsW6zwdMZ7NWqSrf86HT6404&data=05%7C02%7Csbake3%40uottawa.mail.onmicrosoft.com%7Cb347e14a07c54799635008dda3661906%7Cd41fdab17e154cfdb5fa7200e54deb6b%7C1%7C0%7C638846381097656858%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=VA383%2FReVki0vDnwNJfibLJtdWjxHmiePKwY2yxd3e8%3D&reserved=0).   calendar icon Jun 09, 2025 · Reading time 1 min read [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-interpersonal-distress-as-a-criterion-for-personalizing-psychotherapy-for-depression&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-interpersonal-distress-as-a-criterion-for-personalizing-psychotherapy-for-depression&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-interpersonal-distress-as-a-criterion-for-personalizing-psychotherapy-for-depression&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-interpersonal-distress-as-a-criterion-for-personalizing-psychotherapy-for-depression&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) --- ### [By Dr. Giorgio Tasca](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/author/dr-giorgio-tasca) The director of the Psychotherapy Practice Research Network (PPRNet) is Dr. Giorgio Tasca. Dr. Tasca is an Associate Professor with the School of Psychology, in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ottawa. His research is centered around psychotherapy process, mechanisms of change, and outcomes, as well as eating disorders. ## Also Read - [PPRNet Clinical summary: Long-Term Effects of Psychotherapies for Depression](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-long-term-effects-of-psychotherapies-for-depression) - [PPRNet Clinical summary: Self-Compassion as a Protective Factor Against Burnout in Psychologists](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-self-compassion-as-a-protective-factor-against-burnout-in-psychologists) - [PPRNet Clinical summary: The Therapeutic Alliance in Internet-Based Interventions](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-1.-the-therapeutic-alliance-in-internet-based-interventions) - [PPRNet Clinical summary: What Do Individuals With Borderline Personalities Want From Treatment?](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-what-do-individuals-with-borderline-personalities-want-from-treatment) #### RELATED NEWS ![PPRNet Clinical summary: It Takes Two to Heal: Within Dyad Change in the Alliance Predicts Outcomes](https://collabzium.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Client%20and%20Therapist%20Smiling%20in%20Psychologists%20Office.png?width=600&name=Client%20and%20Therapist%20Smiling%20in%20Psychologists%20Office.png) [PPRNET](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/tag/pprnet) ## [PPRNet Clinical summary: It Takes Two to Heal: Within Dyad Change in the Alliance Predicts Outcomes](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-it-takes-two-to-heal-within-dyad-change-in-the-alliance-predicts-outcomes) Although the therapeutic alliance is well known to be related to [patient outcomes](https://trk.cp20.com/click/gs5t-30xc2i-b1l77j-l89bayk9/), it is less clear... May 06, 2026Reading time 2 min read ![PPRNet Clinical summary: Is Psychotherapy Orientation Important for Work Disability Outcomes?](https://collabzium.com/hs-fs/hubfs/portrait-stressed-black-man.jpg?width=600&name=portrait-stressed-black-man.jpg) [PPRNET](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/tag/pprnet) ## [PPRNet Clinical summary: Is Psychotherapy Orientation Important for Work Disability Outcomes?](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-is-psychotherapy-orientation-important-for-work-disability-outcomes) Depression and anxiety disorders cause most of the mental health-related [disability](https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264228283-en?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_tjqzkXhzyzZRlo56a3fM2ElMke0vbfkdleTk6CHUV0TU2UE8JY0gk5Z_b1N904Re01sgLBfTnJsNEXmyEwiow6BG9yw&_hsmi=2) worldwide.... Aug 06, 2025Reading time 2 min read ![PPRNet Clinical summary: The Most Vulnerable are Prone to Use AI Therapists](https://collabzium.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/AI.png?width=600&name=AI.png) [PPRNET](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/tag/pprnet) ## [PPRNet Clinical summary: The Most Vulnerable are Prone to Use AI Therapists](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-the-most-vulnerable-are-prone-to-use-ai-therapists) Digital mental health applications include artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as chatbots and... Mar 02, 2026Reading time 2 min read ![PPRNet Clinical summary: Patients with More Interpersonal Problems Need for Alliance Ruptures to be Repaired](https://collabzium.com/hs-fs/hubfs/chub_backup/therapy-1.png?width=600&name=therapy-1.png) [PPRNET](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/tag/pprnet) ## [PPRNet Clinical summary: Patients with More Interpersonal Problems Need for Alliance Ruptures to be Repaired](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-patients-with-more-interpersonal-problems-need-for-alliance-ruptures-to-be-repaired) The therapeutic [alliance](https://trk.cp20.com/click/gs5t-3078v8-2hu6m9-l89bayk0/) is a well-known and reliable predictor of patient outcomes in... Feb 04, 2026Reading time 2 min read ![Collabzium Logo in White](https://collabzium.com/hubfs/Brand%20Images/Brand%20-%20Faculty%20of%20Social%20Sciences/CollabziumLogoEnglish(Icon)-WHITE.svg)   ##### CONTACT 120 University Ottawa ON K1N 6N5, Canada [Contact Us](mailto:collabz@uottawa.ca) ##### [AI CONTENT CREATION POLICY](https://collabzium.com/ai-artificial-intelligence-content-creation-policy-for-collabzium) ##### ##### SUBSCRIBE TO COLLABZIUM Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to the Collabzium email list for updates, news, and more! [SUBSCRIBE](https://20500402.hubspotpagebuilder.com/subscribe-now) --- © 2026 COLLABZIUM [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/collabzium/) [Follow us on Facebook](https://youtube.com/@Collabzium) ↑