Can chaplains help heal moral wounds in veterans? small study aims to find out

NCT ID NCT07579143

Recruiting now Symptom relief Sponsor: Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This pilot study tests whether VA chaplains can deliver a program to help veterans struggling with moral injury—feelings of guilt, shame, and isolation after traumatic events. Twenty veterans receiving mental health care will take part in up to 12 chaplain-led sessions focused on forgiveness and reconnecting with others. The main goal is to see if the program is practical and acceptable, not yet to prove it works.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: behavioral intervention: chaplain-led sessions focused on forgiveness and community connection
What this could lead to: If successful, this could point toward a new way to help veterans with moral injury by combining mental health care with chaplain support.
What could go wrong: This is a very small pilot study with only 20 participants and no comparison group, so results may not apply broadly. The intervention may not reduce symptoms significantly.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

post-traumatic stress disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

MORAL INJURY

Contacts and locations

Locations

Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System
COMPLETED

Little Rock, Arkansas, 72114, United States
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
RECRUITING

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15240, United States

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