Thriving in the Midst of Moral Pain: The Acceptability and Feasibility of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Moral Injury (ACT-MI) Among Warzone Veterans

NIH RePORTER · VA · I01 · · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Warzone Veterans exposed to morally injurious events frequently experience numerous difficulties in functioning. These Veterans often report suicidal ideation and behavior, substance abuse, symptoms of depression and PTSD, and problems in resuming valued living (e.g., spiritual practice, close relationships).1-7 Despite the transdiagnostic nature of moral injury, there are no moral injury-specific transdiagnostic interventions. Existing interventions tend to be focused on treating moral injury in the context of PTSD.10-11 In addition to an emphasis on PTSD, these interventions target beliefs associated with moral injury as causal factors in the development and maintenance of suffering.10-12 An emphasis on altering beliefs associated with moral injury may not optimally facilitate functional recovery as moral pain from moral violations may be justified. As one third of warzone Veterans endorse exposure to morally injurious events, it is vital to develop interventions that can be efficiently disseminated in VHA to facilitate functional recovery.8-9 The ideal intervention must simultaneously address moral emotions and promote values consistent behavior in the face of these emotions. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for moral injury (ACT-MI) is a recovery-based, psychosocial treatment ideally suited for Veterans endorsing difficulties in functioning related to moral injury.15 ACT teaches skills to help Veterans relate differently to painful thoughts, emotions, urges, and sensations.40 Rather than focusing on symptom reduction, ACT is an evidence-based intervention that directly targets functional recovery by assisting Veterans in identifying and engaging in values-consistent behavior even in the presence of distress. In Veteran populations specifically, ACT has been demonstrated effective in treating suicidal ideation and depression and as a result, has been “rolled-out” as an evidence based psychotherapy for depression within VHA.59-60 ACT-MI operates on the principles of ACT, with an explicit focus on the social functions of moral emotions.13-14 ACT-MI is the only intervention for moral injury that is based on social functionalism which purports that moral emotions (e.g., shame, pride) serve evolutionary purposes essential to group survival.15 Thus learning to interact with moral emotions differently is crucial to recovery. In ACT-MI, a group-based intervention is used to facilitate in-vivo exposure to moral emotions in the context of values. The proposed two arm randomized controlled pilot study will evaluate the acceptability of ACT-MI and an active control treatment, and determine the feasibility of the randomized controlled trial design for a future full-scale efficacy study. To accomplish this goal we will continue to refine ACT-MI. Veterans enrolled will be randomized to: (a) Present Centered Therapy (PCT) or (b) ACT-MI, both of which will consist of 12, 90-minute group sessions. The specific aims of this study are to: (1) Evaluate the acce...

Key facts

NIH application ID
10820134
Project number
5I01RX002854-05
Recipient
VA EASTERN COLORADO HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Principal Investigator
SEAN BARNES
Activity code
I01
Funding institute
VA
Fiscal year
2024
Award amount
Award type
5
Project period
2019-04-01 → 2024-10-31