Building Spiritual Strength for Moral Injury
Implementation of Innovative Treatment for Moral Injury Syndrome: A Hybrid Type 2 Study
This project compares a group program called Building Spiritual Strength with standard group therapy to help people who are struggling with moral injury, spiritual distress, depression, or suicidal thoughts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Maine Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Augusta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10886668 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a group program called Building Spiritual Strength (BSS) or a standard present-centered group therapy and attend regular sessions while completing questionnaires about moral distress, mood, suicidal thoughts, and daily functioning. The trial measures changes in moral injury symptoms as the main outcome and also tracks depression, suicidal ideation, and functional impairment. Researchers will also create and test an implementation toolkit so VA clinics can more easily offer BSS if it works. The program builds on earlier trials where BSS reduced PTSD symptoms and spiritual distress, but this study focuses on moral injury specifically.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (often veterans) who experience persistent guilt, shame, loss of meaning, spiritual distress, or suicidal thoughts after events that conflict with their values would be the best candidates.
Not a fit: People without moral or spiritual injury, those needing immediate inpatient or emergency care, or those seeking only medication-based treatment are less likely to benefit from this group-based program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give patients a tested group program and practical clinic materials to reduce moral injury symptoms, improve mood, and lower suicide risk.
How similar studies have performed: Previous randomized trials of Building Spiritual Strength have reduced PTSD and spiritual distress, but using it specifically for moral injury as the primary outcome and implementing it widely is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Augusta, United States
- VA Maine Healthcare System — Augusta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Golden, Kristin B. — VA Maine Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Golden, Kristin B.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.