Abstract
Background: Moral injury can significantly negative impact mental health but currently no validated treatment for moral injury-related mental health difficulties exists. This study aimed to examine whether the Restore and Rebuild (R&R) treatment was feasible to deliver, acceptable and well tolerated by UK military veterans with moral injury related mental health difficulties.
Method: The R&R treatment was delivered to 20 patients who reported distress related to exposure to a morally injurious event(s) during military service. R&R is a 20-session psychotherapy with key themes of processing the event, self compassion, connecting with others and core values. Treatment was delivered online, weekly, one-to-one by a single therapist. Qualitative interviews with patients and the therapist who delivered R&R were conducted to explore acceptability and analysed using thematic analysis.
Outcomes: Following treatment, patients experienced a significant reduction in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, alcohol misuse and moral injury related distress. R&R was found to be well tolerated by patients and improved their perceived quality of life.
Interpretation: These results provide preliminary evidence that veterans struggling with moral injury related mental ill health can benefit from R&R treatment.
Funding: This study received funding from the Forces in Mind Trust.
Declaration of Interest: No financial relationships with any organisations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous three years; no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work. Prof Dominic Murphy is a trustee for the funder of this project, the Forces in Mind Trust.
Ethical Approval: This study was approved by King’s College London Research Ethics Committee HR-20/21-20850.
Method: The R&R treatment was delivered to 20 patients who reported distress related to exposure to a morally injurious event(s) during military service. R&R is a 20-session psychotherapy with key themes of processing the event, self compassion, connecting with others and core values. Treatment was delivered online, weekly, one-to-one by a single therapist. Qualitative interviews with patients and the therapist who delivered R&R were conducted to explore acceptability and analysed using thematic analysis.
Outcomes: Following treatment, patients experienced a significant reduction in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, alcohol misuse and moral injury related distress. R&R was found to be well tolerated by patients and improved their perceived quality of life.
Interpretation: These results provide preliminary evidence that veterans struggling with moral injury related mental ill health can benefit from R&R treatment.
Funding: This study received funding from the Forces in Mind Trust.
Declaration of Interest: No financial relationships with any organisations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous three years; no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work. Prof Dominic Murphy is a trustee for the funder of this project, the Forces in Mind Trust.
Ethical Approval: This study was approved by King’s College London Research Ethics Committee HR-20/21-20850.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher | SSRN |
| Number of pages | 32 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 27 Apr 2023 |
