Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 2, 2026

Simultaneous Application of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation during Virtual Reality Exposure
Published on: January 18, 2021
Utilizing acceptance and commitment therapy to address moral injury: Development and preliminary outcomes of an
Melissa A Smigelsky1, Stephanie R Rodriguez2, Jaimie Lusk3
1Department of Veterans Affairs.
Abstract:
Moral injury is a topic of rapidly increasing scholarly interest, and it presents unique challenges and opportunities for clinical intervention because of its overlapping psychological, spiritual, and relational dimensions. This article (a) describes the development, implementation, and iterative refinement of a collaborative acceptance and commitment therapy group intervention for moral injury that is cofacilitated by a mental health professional and a chaplain and (b) presents preliminary outcomes derived from a retrospective, uncontrolled pre-post analysis of clinical data collected over several years of implementation in a Veterans Health Administration setting. Preliminary pre-post data (n = 102) demonstrate improvement in outcome measures (posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, psychosocial functioning, psychological inflexibility/experiential avoidance). The group was implemented 22 times during a 7-year period, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, in both in-person and virtual formats. Future research and clinical quality improvement endeavors can help answer important questions about efficacy. To our knowledge, this study is one of the first to report outcomes using one of the recently developed, robust moral injury measures (Moral Injury Outcome Scale), making this a particularly novel contribution to the literature. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Related Concept Videos
Group Therapy
Humanistic Therapy
Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Cognitive Dissonance
Psychotherapy
