Thriving in the Midst of Moral Pain: The Acceptability and Feasibility of Acceptance and Commitme… (NCT03760731) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Thriving in the Midst of Moral Pain: The Acceptability and Feasibility of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Moral Injury (ACT-MI) Among Warzone Veterans
United States74 participantsStarted 2019-04-01
Plain-language summary
The need for moral injury interventions is increasingly being recognized as a domain in Veteran care that must be addressed. Consequences of exposure to morally injurious events include risk for suicide, substance abuse, and refractory symptoms of PTSD and depression. Exposure to morally injurious events is also highly prevalent among Veterans. Thus, interventions addressing moral injury are crucial to helping Veterans build meaningful lives. Psychotherapies explicitly targeting moral injury and functional recovery associated with this construct are limited in VHA. The proposed study serves as a first step in addressing this gap in the literature through the development of a recovery-oriented, evidence-based treatment approach for moral injury among warzone Veterans who report functional impairments related to moral emotions. The proposed pilot study will evaluate the acceptability of this intervention and the feasibility of the design for a future study to test the treatment's capacity to improve patients' functioning.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 89 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Eligible for VHA care
* Has been deployed to a warzone
* Has experienced a morally injurious event which continues to interfere with functioning
* Willing to be randomized and participate in either of the two conditions
Exclusion Criteria:
* Inability to provide informed consent
* Inability to complete study measures, e.g.:
* due to significant acute intoxication/withdrawal symptoms
* mania
* psychosis
* aggression
* catatonia
* cognitive impairment
* Imminent suicide risk
* Membership in a vulnerable population, e.g.:
* pregnant women
* History of significant violence towards VA staff
* Participation in another psychotherapy research study
* Current participation in an EBP for a condition related to moral injury
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Client Satisfaction Questionnaire
Timeframe: Post-treatment (0-7 days after treatment completion)
2
Narrative Evaluation of Intervention Interview
Timeframe: Post-treatment (0-7 days after treatment completion)
3
Reasons for Termination (Client and Therapist Versions)
Timeframe: Post-treatment (0-7 days after terminating treatment)