Journal of religion and health
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Treatment of Moral Injury in U.S. Veterans with PTSD Using a Structured Chaplain Intervention.
Moral injury is a complex phenomenon characterized by spiritual, psychological, and moral distress caused by actions or acts of omission inconsistent with an individual's moral and ethical values. We present two cases from an ongoing randomized controlled trial of a spiritually integrated structured intervention delivered by chaplains for individuals suffering from moral injury. ⋯ Participants were asked to complete validated scales assessing symptoms of moral injury and PTSD, including the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Moral Injury Symptom Scale-Military Version Short Form, and Moral Injury Symptom Scale-Military Version Long Form. We report on two Veterans who completed the intervention and demonstrated significant improvement in moral injury and PTSD symptoms.
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Moral injury tends to be conceptualized through an interplay of psychological and religious concerns. Recent qualitative research has begun utilizing chaplains to bolster the understanding of moral injury within veterans. ⋯ Chaplains highlighted how moral injury is a pervasive issue affecting veterans across multiple domains. Clinical implications discussed further.