Can a talking therapy heal Veterans' moral wounds?
NCT ID NCT03760731
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a therapy called ACT-MI for veterans struggling with moral injury—pain from events that went against their values. 74 warzone veterans took part to see if the therapy was acceptable and practical. The goal was to help them live meaningful lives, not to cure a disease.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
74 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Apr 2019
- Finished
-
Oct 2024
- Lead sponsor
-
A government agency
The lead sponsor is a US federal agency other than the NIH.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 89 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
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
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Moral injury are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO
Aurora, Colorado, 80045-7211, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can two therapies heal the hidden wounds of war?
- Ecstasy-Assisted therapy shows promise for veterans haunted by war
- What really matters in the ER? study seeks to measure the unseen value of healthcare workers
- Ethics class with Real-Life role models may shield med students from moral injury
- Can music or writing help heal healthcare Workers' trauma?
- New study aims to uncover hidden suffering of psychiatric staff