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Moral Injury Syndrome (MIS) affects up to 35-60% of Veterans managing combat-related PTSD; it results from experiences that challenge deeply held values or spiritual beliefs. Symptoms of MIS may include hopelessness, helplessness, loss of spiritual beliefs, difficulty with forgiveness, loss of meaning or purpose, reduced trust in self or others, or intractable guilt, shame or anger.
Veterans managing MIS have difficulty responding to mental health treatment, and are at increased risk for suicide ideation or attempts. To date evidence-based interventions for MIS are not widely available in VA. This study will implement an evidence-based intervention for MIS in four VA facilities, collect data on the effectiveness of the intervention, and develop an implementation toolkit. This data will inform national dissemination in collaboration with the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and the National Chaplain Service.
Full description
Background: Moral injury syndrome (MIS) consists of the psychological and behavioral sequelae of experiences that challenge moral, spiritual, or values related beliefs. Symptoms of MIS may include hopelessness, helplessness, loss of previously held spiritual beliefs, struggle with a Higher Power, difficulty with forgiveness, lack of meaning or purpose, reduced trust in self or others, or intractable guilt, shame or anger. Individuals managing MIS are up to twice as likely as their peers to consider and attempt suicide, and derive less benefit from psychotherapy. There are few evidence-based interventions for moral injury; one such intervention is a manualized, group intervention called "Building Spiritual Strength (BSS)." In previous randomized controlled trials BSS has been shown to reduce both symptoms of PTSD and spiritual distress.
This clinical trial will be one of the first to measure symptoms of MIS as a primary outcome. Hypotheses are:
Significance: To date there are not standard procedures for assessing and treating MIS, so it is likely that untreated MIS is contributing to poor outcomes, including suicides. Developing an implementation toolkit so that BSS is widely available in VA facilities could reduce the impact of MIS on Veterans' mental health.
Innovation and Impact: To date there have not been funded implementation studies on treatments for MIS in Veterans, and very few VA facilities provide evidence-based care for MIS. This study can clear the way to make evidence-based care for MIS more accessible in the VA system.
Specific Aims:
Methodology: This will be a type 2 hybrid study, combining pre- and post-implementation evaluations with a randomized clinical trial at 4 culturally diverse VA sites.
Next Steps and Implementation: Data on barriers and facilitators will be used to develop a toolkit and collaborate with study partners at the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and the National Chaplain Service to develop a national dissemination plan for BSS. The investigators will work with existing clinical staffing at the study sites, so that those sites can continue to provide BSS services after the study. Furthermore, after completing this study, BSS leaders will be qualified to train BSS leaders at other sites, creating resources for training and national dissemination.
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200 participants in 2 patient groups
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Central trial contact
Diane L Rivera; Jeanette I Harris, PhD MS MS
Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov
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