At a glance
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Using Moral Elevation to Improve Functioning in Veterans With PTSD and Moral Injury: A Pilot Study of a Web-Based Intervention
In Brief
A clinical study evaluating Moral Elevation intervention for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Moral Injury. Completed, enrolled 87 participants across 1 site.
Detailed Summary
Given the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and moral injury in combat Veterans and the limitations to current treatments, novel approaches are needed to target both PTSD and moral injury and directly impact psychosocial growth and functional recovery. One potential way to address this critical need is through moral elevation-a positive emotional state described as feeling uplifted and inspired by others' virtuous actions. This study will pilot a web-based moral elevation intervention with Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn Veterans who experienced a morally injurious event and with a PTSD diagnosis. If Veterans are willing and able to complete an online moral elevation intervention and it has beneficial effects, then moral elevation could be feasibly utilized as a tool to reverse the negative effects of trauma and facilitate recovery. Data from this study will be used to develop larger clinical trials to test if this intervention significantly improves PTSD symptoms and moral injury distress and enhances social functioning.
Study Details
Timeline
Interventions
The intervention will be administered twice per week for 8 sessions total. The intervention will include two types of moral elevation exercises related to witnessing virtuous behavior and subsequently setting session goals aimed to facilitate social engagement.