APA Dictionary of Psychology

a nonpharmacological strategy intended to alleviate or moderate the psychological, interpersonal, and social aspects of a health or mental health condition for which an individual has been diagnosed or is at risk. For example, in addition to the surgical and medical treatments that women with breast cancer may receive, their care often warrants psychosocial interventions to help them sort through their thoughts about the disease and cope with the emotional impact of both the diagnosis and its treatment on their sense of self, their daily function at home and work, and their relationships with family and friends. These interventions include those provided by professionals and aimed at facilitating psychological adjustment (e.g., cognitive behavior therapy, couples therapy) as well as those involving interpersonal engagement with other patients who have the same condition (i.e., support groups).

The term psychosocial intervention is often used broadly. For example, in those at risk of a health condition because of their behavior—such as Type 2 diabetes due to overeating and obesity, or emphysema due to smoking—the term refers both to psychological approaches aimed at initiating behavior change (e.g., motivational interviewing) and to programs that may not be strictly psychosocial per se but that may serve one’s psychosocial goals by putting behavior change into effect to advance one’s health (e.g., through diet, exercise, smoking cessation). Mobile apps and Web-based programs are also being developed to provide psychosocial interventions. Also called psychological intervention.