Perceptions of Military Experience Among Veterans Reporting Lifetime Warzone Moral Injury.

ABSTRACT: Exposures to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) and possible moral injury are risk factors for a range of difficulties impacting individual functioning. Although exposure to PMIEs is a somewhat common product of war, qualitative methods to understand Veterans' experiences of moral injury and Veterans Affairs treatment are limited. To better characterize Veterans' experiences, 14 male warzone Veterans who reported moral injury post-warzone deployment and completed posttraumatic stress disorder treatment in the past year were asked to describe their military service as part of a qualitative study. Through thematic analysis, we found two moral injury-consistent themes and four subthemes. The first theme was "military experiences were associated with morally questioning one's self" with subthemes of "moral shift" and "depersonalization." The second theme was "military experiences were associated with morally questioning others" with subthemes of "disillusionment" and "resignation." Based on these findings, we conclude with a discussion of treatment implications for moral injury.

Veterans' perspectives on discussing moral injury in the context of evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD and other VA treatment.

OBJECTIVE: We examined Veterans' perspectives on discussing moral injury in veterans affairs (VA) evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other VA treatment. METHODS: Fourteen male warzone veterans (ages 25-74) who completed an EBP for PTSD within the past year participated in semistructured interviews related to discussing moral injury in VA treatment (e.g., EBPs for PTSD, chaplaincy). Qualitative interviews were evaluated using a thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four themes were identified; moral injury is often not identified or discussed during therapy, therapeutic relationships can promote or inhibit discussion of moral injury, treatment has limited impact on moral injury, and it is difficult to cope with moral injury even after treatment. CONCLUSION: The majority of Veterans interviewed identified moral injury persisting within a year of completing a PTSD EBP. These findings highlight the value of asking about, assessing, and treating moral injury in Veterans. Our results suggest the importance of developing specific moral injury interventions for warzone Veterans.

Traumatic brain injury, psychiatric diagnoses, and suicide risk among Veterans seeking services related to homelessness.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the differences in negative psychiatric outcomes (i.e. type and number of psychiatric diagnoses, suicide risk) among Veterans with and without a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) seeking homeless services. METHODS: Observational design with data collected at one time-point. Veterans seeking homeless services from two Veteran Affairs (VA) Medical Centres completed study measures (n = 309; 282 with a history of TBI and 27 without a history of TBI). Veterans participated in structured clinical interviews regarding psychiatric and TBI histories. RESULTS: Those with a history of TBI met the criteria for significantly more psychiatric diagnoses (p = 0.0003), and were more likely to be at risk for suicide (p = 0.007) than those without a history of TBI. CONCLUSIONS: Even among the high-risk cohort of homeless Veterans, those with a history of TBI were found to be at even greater risk for negative psychiatric outcomes. Further research is required to determine if and how the history of TBI contributes to the inability to maintain stable housing. Moreover, the findings highlight both the importance of assessing for history of TBI among this cohort, and educating providers regarding how to address the needs related to injury sequelae.

The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale: Further Examination of Dimensionality, Reliability, and Concurrent Validity Estimates.

We examined the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) in a sample of 810 undergraduate students. Using common exploratory factor analysis (EFA), we obtained evidence for a 1-factor solution (41.84% common variance). To confirm unidimensionality of the 15-item MAAS, we conducted a 1-factor confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results of the EFA and CFA, respectively, provided support for a unidimensional model. Using differential item functioning analysis methods within item response theory modeling (IRT-based DIF), we found that individuals with high and low levels of nonattachment responded similarly to the MAAS items. Following a detailed item analysis, we proposed a 5-item short version of the instrument and present descriptive statistics and composite score reliability for the short and full versions of the MAAS. Finally, correlation analyses showed that scores on the full and short versions of the MAAS were associated with measures assessing related constructs. The 5-item MAAS is as useful as the original MAAS in enhancing our understanding of the mindfulness construct.

Comparing effectiveness of CPT to CPT-C among U.S. Veterans in an interdisciplinary residential PTSD/TBI treatment program.

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a leading cognitive-behavioral treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a front-line intervention according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs treatment guidelines. The original CPT protocol entails the creation of a written trauma account and use of cognitive therapy. Cognitive processing therapy-cognitive therapy only (CPT-C) does not involve a written account and in a previous study resulted in faster symptom improvement and fewer dropouts than standard CPT. This study sought to replicate these findings by comparing the effectiveness of CPT to CPT-C in a sample of 86 U.S. male veterans receiving treatment in a PTSD residential program for individuals with a history of traumatic brain injury. CPT and CPT-C were delivered in a combined individual and group format as part of a comprehensive, interdisciplinary treatment program. Outcomes were self- and clinician-reported PTSD and self-reported depression symptoms. Multilevel analysis revealed no significant difference for PTSD symptoms, but did show a greater decrease in depression at posttreatment (d = 0.63) for those receiving CPT. When an experiment-wise α correction was applied, this effect did not remain significant.

Impact of an internet-based insomnia intervention on suicidal ideation and associated correlates in veterans at elevated suicide risk.

Improving public health approaches to suicide prevention requires scalable evidence-based interventions that can be easily disseminated. Given empirical data supporting the association between insomnia and suicide risk, internet-delivered insomnia interventions are promising candidates to meet this need. The purpose of this study was to examine whether an unguided internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (iCBT-I) improved insomnia severity, suicidal ideation (SI), and suicide risk correlates (depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, hostility, belongingness, hopelessness, agitation, irritability, concentration) in a sample of veterans. Secondary data analysis of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn veterans (n = 50) with clinically significant insomnia and elevated SI drawn from a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an iCBT-I, Sleep Healthy Using the Internet (SHUTi). Two-sample t-tests or Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to evaluate between-group differences (SHUTi vs. Insomnia Education Website control) in symptom improvement from baseline to post-intervention. SHUTi participants experienced a significant improvement in insomnia severity (P < .001; d = -1.08) and a non-significant with small (subthreshold medium) effect size reduction of SI (P = .17, d = 0.40), compared to control participants. Significant improvement in hopelessness was observed (medium effect size), with non-significant small to medium effect size reductions in most remaining suicide risk correlates. Self-administered iCBT-I was associated with improvements in insomnia severity in veterans at elevated risk for suicide. These preliminary findings suggest that SI and suicide risk correlates may improve following an iCBT-I intervention, demonstrating the need for future well-powered iCBT-I RCTs targeted for populations at elevated suicide risk.

In this secondary data analysis, we examined improvements in insomnia severity, suicidal ideation (SI), and suicide risk correlates in veterans with clinically significant insomnia and elevated SI drawn from a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT) examining an unguided internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (iCBT-I). Veterans in the iCBT-I group experienced greater improvements in insomnia severity and hopelessness than veterans in the Insomnia Education Website control. Although between-group differences in SI and other suicide risk correlates were not statistically significant, effect sizes suggest that SI and symptoms of depression, irritability, concentration, post-traumatic stress disorder, and hostility may improve following iCBT-I intervention. These results suggest that digital and iCBT-I interventions may be especially powerful tools for use in suicide prevention among veterans but highlight the critical need for additional large-scale studies to examine suicide-specific mechanisms and outcomes to guide implementation efforts.

Challenges associated with screening for traumatic brain injury among US veterans seeking homeless services.

We identified the prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among homeless veterans and assessed the TBI-4, a screening tool created to identify TBI history. Between May 2010 and October 2011, 800 US veterans from two hospitals, one eastern (n = 122) and one western (n = 678) completed some or all measures. Findings suggested that 47% of veterans seeking homeless services had a probable history of TBI (data for prevalence obtained only at the western hospital). However, psychometric results from the screening measure suggested that this may be an underestimate and supported comprehensive assessment of TBI in this population.

The perceived impact of pandemic scale (PIPS): Initial development and examination among U.S. military veterans.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts, including increases in mental health problems, distress, interpersonal conflict, unemployment, loss of income, housing instability, and food insecurity. Veterans may be particularly vulnerable to such impacts given their burden of mental and physical health problems. Few existing measures assess pandemic impact, and none have been validated for use with Veterans. We developed such a measure (the Perceived Impact of the Pandemic Scale; PIPS) and examined its psychometric performance in a national sample of US Veterans. Survey data from 567 Veterans were collected between 12/2020 and 2/2021. To examine PIPS factor structure, split sample exploratory/confirmatory factor analyses (EFA/CFA) were conducted to identify and test the most plausible model among an initial set of 18 items. Based on tests of factor extraction and factor loadings, 15 items clearly loaded onto three distinct factors. Internal reliability of all factors was ω > 0.8 and CFA model fit was good (χ2(87) = 167.39, p < .001; SRMR = 0.068; RMSEA = 0.060 [95% CI: 0.05, 0.07], CFI = 0.92). Mean factor scores were significantly positively correlated with measures of depression and loneliness, and negatively correlated with perceived social support. Results suggest the PIPS assesses three internally reliable factors comprised of perceived impact of the pandemic on interpersonal relationships, financial impact, and personal health and well-being. Construct validity with US Veterans was supported. The PIPS may be useful for examining the potentially disparate impact of pandemics on different populations. Research is needed to validate the PIPS in non-Veteran populations.

Efficacy of an Internet-Delivered Intervention for Improving Insomnia Severity and Functioning in Veterans: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Despite a growing evidence base that internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (iCBT-I) is associated with decreased insomnia severity, its efficacy has been minimally examined in veterans. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an unguided iCBT-I (Sleep Healthy Using the Internet [SHUTi]) among veterans. METHODS: We conducted a single-blind, randomized controlled trial in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn veterans eligible for Veterans Health Administration care. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive SHUTi (a self-guided and interactive program) or an Insomnia Education Website (IEW) that provided nontailored and fixed insomnia information. Web-based assessments were administered at baseline, postintervention, 6 months postintervention, and 1 year postintervention. The primary outcome was self-reported insomnia severity (Insomnia Severity Index [ISI]). Secondary outcomes were self-reported mental and physical health functioning (Veterans RAND 36-item Health Survey). Exploratory outcomes comprised sleep diary parameters. RESULTS: Of the 231 randomized participants (mean age 39.3, SD 7.8 years; 170/231, 73.5% male sex; 26/231, 11.3% Black; 172/231, 74.5% White; 10/231, 4.3% multiracial; and 17/231, 7.4% other; 36/231, 15.6% Hispanic) randomized between April 2018 and January 2019, a total of 116 (50.2%) were randomly assigned to SHUTi and 115 (49.8%) to the IEW. In intent-to-treat analyses, SHUTi participants experienced significantly larger ISI decreases compared with IEW participants at all time points (generalized η2 values of 0.13, 0.12, and 0.10, respectively; all P<.0001). These corresponded to estimated larger differences in changes of -3.47 (95% CI -4.78 to -2.16), -3.80 (95% CI -5.34 to -2.27), and -3.42 (95% CI -4.97 to 1.88) points on the ISI for the SHUTi group. SHUTi participants experienced significant improvements in physical (6-month generalized η2=0.04; P=.004) and mental health functioning (6-month and 1-year generalized η2=0.04; P=.009 and P=.005, respectively). Significant sleep parameter improvements were noted for SHUTi (all P<.05), though the pattern and magnitude of these reductions varied by parameter. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Self-administered iCBT-I was associated with immediate and long-term improvements in insomnia severity. Findings suggest that leveraging technology to meet insomnia treatment demands among veterans may be a promising approach. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03366870; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03366870.

The influence of comorbid MDD on outcome after residential treatment for veterans with PTSD and a history of TBI.

Among military personnel, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are frequently reported, highlighting the need for treatment outcome research with this population. This study examined the influence of the presence or absence of comorbid MDD on the outcome of a residential treatment program at the midpoint and end of the program for 47 male veterans with PTSD and a history of TBI. Results demonstrated significant decreases of self-reported symptoms on the PTSD Checklist-Stressor Specific Version (PCL-S; MDD, d = 1.19; No MDD, d = 1.17) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II; MDD, d = 0.98; No MDD, d = 1.09) following treatment for both groups. There were no differences in the rate of symptom reduction between groups. Individuals who also met criteria for MDD at pretreatment, however, evidenced higher scores on symptom measures at all assessment time points (ds = 0.60-1.25).

The Role of Social Determinants of Health in Moral Injury: Implications and Future Directions.

Purpose of Review: Exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) and the development of moral injury have yet to be conceptualized as they relate to social determinants of health (SDoH).Recent Findings.In this paper, the extant literature on moral injury and SDoH is reviewed. Specific individual-level SDoH, including gender, sex, sexual orientation, race, and ethnicity, are explored relative to PMIEs and moral injury. The relationship among environmental SDoH, including childhood environment, justice involvement, and homelessness, is described. Summary: Assessment and treatment implications are discussed, and future research directions highlighting the need for additional work addressing health inequities in moral injury are presented.

Case Conceptualizing in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Moral Injury: An Active and Ongoing Approach to Understanding and Intervening on Moral Injury.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Moral Injury (ACT-MI; 10-11), is an application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy principles designed to help individuals live their values, even in the presence of moral pain. ACT-MI differs from other emerging treatments for moral injury in that ACT-MI is not based on a traditional syndromal approach to conceptualizing moral injury, which treats moral injury as a collection of signs and symptoms to be reduced. Rather than assuming moral injury causes suffering through a constellation of symptoms that a person has, in ACT-MI, moral injury is defined by what a person does in response to moral pain. Consistent with this framework, we present a unique approach to moral injury case conceptualization that emphasizes function over form, providing clients the opportunity to break free from the patterns of behavior that cause moral injury-related suffering to persist. Rooted in approaches to conceptualizing that have demonstrated utility in extant interventions (e.g., ACT), ACT-MI clinicians conduct ongoing functional analyses to inform case conceptualization and intervention. Functional analysis is used to disrupt the processes maintaining moral injury, as the client and therapist work to identify and intervene on the behaviors reinforcing avoidance and control of painful internal experiences causing moral injury. In the current article, we guide the reader through a framework for applying functional analysis to the conceptualization of moral injury where the reinforcers driving moral injury are explored. We also provide examples of questions that can be used to help uncover the functions of moral injury consistent behavior. Case examples based on our experiences treating moral injury are presented to demonstrate how various types of morally injurious events can evoke different features of moral pain which in turn motivate different repertoires of avoidance and control. These inflexible patterns of avoidance and control create suffering by engaging in behavior designed to escape moral pain, such as social isolation, spiritual disconnection, reduced self-care, suicidal ideation, and substance use. We discuss how to target this suffering using functional analysis to guide treatment decisions, matching interventional processes within ACT-MI to the specific functions that moral injury-related behavior is serving for an individual. We suggest that the use of functional analytic case formulation procedures described herein can assist clients in disrupting behavioral patterns maintaining moral injury and thereby free them to pursue lives of greater meaning and purpose.

Cultivating psychological flexibility to address religious and spiritual suffering in moral injury.

In the current paper, we aim to expand the dialogue about applying psychological flexibility processes to moral injury-related spiritual suffering using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Psychological flexibility is the process of practicing present moment awareness and openness to experiences of emotions and thoughts, while also choosing to engage in actions that are consistent with one's values. This open, aware, and engaged approach to life fits well with spiritual endeavors. We provide a framework and a case example illustrating how spiritual care providers and Chaplains can use psychological flexibility processes to target spiritual suffering in the context of moral injury.

Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention for Depression Among Veterans: Acceptability and Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Computerized cognitive behavioral therapies (cCBTs) have been developed to deliver efficient, evidence-based treatment for depression and other mental health conditions. Beating the Blues (BtB) is one of the most empirically supported cCBTs for depression. The previous trial of BtB with veterans included regular guidance by health care personnel, which increased the complexity and cost of the intervention. OBJECTIVE: This study, conducted by researchers at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center, aims to test the acceptability and feasibility of unguided cCBT for depression among US military veterans. METHODS: To examine the acceptability of BtB delivered without additional peer or other mental health care provider support, a before-and-after trial was conducted among United States (US) military veterans experiencing mild to moderate depressive symptoms. The feasibility of the study design for a future efficacy trial was also evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 49 veterans completed preintervention assessments and received access to BtB, and 29 participants completed all postintervention assessments. The predetermined acceptability criterion for the intervention was met. Although the predetermined feasibility criteria regarding screening eligibility rate, number of BtB modules completed, and completion of a posttreatment assessment were not met, the results were comparable with those of other cCBT studies. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study among US military veterans to demonstrate support for the implementation of cCBT for depression without the assistance of a mental health professional or a peer support specialist, suggesting that stand-alone computer-aided interventions may be viable. Ideas for improving feasibility in future trials based on this study are discussed.

A longitudinal analysis of the role of potentially morally injurious events on COVID-19-related psychosocial functioning among healthcare providers.

Medical leaders have warned of the potential public health burden of a "parallel pandemic" faced by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. These individuals may have experienced scenarios in which their moral code was violated resulting in potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs). In the present study, hierarchical linear modeling was utilized to examine the role of PMIEs on COVID-19 pandemic-related difficulties in psychosocial functioning among 211 healthcare providers (83% female, 89% White, and an average of 11.30 years in their healthcare profession [9.31]) over a 10-month span (May 2020 -March 2021). Reported exposure to PMIEs was associated with statistically significant poorer self-reported psychosocial functioning at baseline and over the course of 10-months of data collection. Within exploratory examinations of PMIE type, perceptions of transgressions by self or others (e.g., "I acted in ways that violated my own moral code or values"), but not perceived betrayal (e.g., "I feel betrayed by leaders who I once trusted"), was associated with poorer COVID-19 related psychosocial functioning (e.g., feeling connected to others, relationship with spouse or partner). Findings from this study speak to the importance of investing in intervention and prevention efforts to mitigate the consequences of exposure to PMIEs among healthcare providers. Interventions for healthcare providers targeting psychosocial functioning in the context of moral injury is an important area for future research.

Therapeutic Risk Management for Violence: Safety Planning for Other-directed Violence.

Therapeutic management of risk for other-directed violence (ODV) involves screening, assessment, and clinically appropriate intervention. In this 5-part series, effective screening and assessment for ODV have been described as a combination of clinical interviewing and the use of structured tools to inform clinical impressions of both acute and chronic risk for violence. Once risk of violence is identified, therapeutic management of the risk throughout the course of treatment is best achieved by determining the function of the violent ideation and behavior. This can be achieved through the use of functional chain analysis. Chain analysis not only serves the purpose of providing insight into the contingencies of violent behavior but also helps to identify target areas of intervention where other skills, strategies, and means to access resources for support can be applied. In this fifth and final column of the series, we describe an intervention with all of these outcomes as its goals. A safety plan for ODV assists both clients and mental health professionals in disrupting patterns of violent ideation or behavior that would otherwise continue causing not only harm to others but prolonged negative consequences for those engaging in such behaviors.

Therapeutic Risk Management for Violence: Chain Analysis of Other-directed Violent Ideation and Behavior.

Violence risk assessment is a requisite component of mental health treatment. Adhering to standards of care and ethical and legal requirements necessitates a cogent process for conducting, and then documenting, other-directed violence (ODV) risk screening, assessment, and management. In this 5-part series, we describe a model for achieving therapeutic risk management of the potentially violent patient, with essential elements involving: clinical interview augmented by structured screening or assessment tools; risk stratification in terms of temporality and severity; chain analysis to intervene on the functions of ODV ideation and behavior; and a personalized safety plan to mitigate/manage risk. In this fourth column of the series, we describe chain analysis as a critical tool for assessing and intervening on ODV ideation and behavior. We identify the pathways of reinforcement that can cause ODV to persist, and how to navigate potential barriers to completing ODV chains. Using a case example, we demonstrate how to apply chain analysis to ODV ideation and behavior and offer interventional strategies that can be used to disrupt the chain and ultimately reduce the risk for violence.

Acceptability of cognitive anxiety sensitivity treatment among veterans with mTBI.

OBJECTIVE: Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is a transdiagnostic risk factor for persistent physical and psychological symptoms relevant to veterans, such as postconcussive symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The Cognitive Anxiety Sensitivity Treatment (CAST) computerized intervention has been shown to reduce AS but has not been widely used among veterans. The purpose of this study was to assess the acceptability and feasibility of CAST among veterans with elevated AS and mTBI eligible to receive Veterans Health Administration (VHA) care. DESIGN: Twenty-two veterans with mTBI, elevated cognitive AS, and history of deployment to Iraq and/or Afghanistan completed a single assessment and intervention session. Acceptability was assessed with the Client Satisfaction Quesitonnaire-8 (CSQ-8) and a qualitative interview. Measures of feasibility included study enrollment, ease of participation, and intervention completion. AS was assessed pre- and post-CAST completion. RESULTS: Consistent with interview responses, 77.3% of participants' CSQ-8 scores indicated that veterans found the intervention acceptable. Technological issues, such as internet connectivity, decreased feasibility of consistently delivering the intervention in the research setting readily available to the study team. Decreases on pre-to-post intervention AS outcomes were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Acceptability of the CAST intervention in this sample was generally supported. Feasibility of implementing CAST in this study was limited by technological issues. Data did not indicate a critical need to revise content of the CAST intervention. Identified strategies for increasing the feasibility of future research and clinical implementation of CAST are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Therapeutic Risk Management for Violence: Clinical Risk Assessment.

Violence risk assessment is a requisite component of mental health treatment. Adhering to standards of care and ethical and legal requirements necessitates a cogent process for conducting (and documenting) screening, assessment, and management of other-directed violence risk. In this 5-part series, we describe a model for achieving therapeutic risk management of the potentially violent patient, with essential elements involving a clinical interview augmented by structured screening or assessment tools; risk stratification in terms of temporality and severity; chain analysis to intervene on the functions of violent ideation and behavior; and development of a personalized safety plan. This first column of the series focuses on essential aspects of the clinical interview.

Therapeutic Risk Management for Violence: Augmenting Clinical Risk Assessment With Structured Instruments.

Violence risk assessment is a requisite component of mental health treatment. Adhering to standards of care and ethical and legal requirements necessitates a cogent process for conducting, and then documenting, other-directed violence risk screening, assessment, and management. In this 5-part series, we describe a model for achieving therapeutic risk management of the potentially violent patient, with essential elements involving: clinical interview augmented by structured screening or assessment tools; risk stratification in terms of temporality and severity; chain analysis to intervene on the functions of violent ideation and behavior; and a personalized safety plan to mitigate/manage risk. This second column in the series describes the advantages of, and offers suggestions for, incorporating structured tools into violence risk assessment.