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Moral Injury and Spiritual Distress: Clinical Applications in Interdisciplinary, Spiritually Integrated Interventions

  • Moral Injury (JI Harris, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Spiritual distress (SD) can be a critical component of moral injury (MI), which is not often assessed or treated. This article offers suggestions for including SD to improve clinical outcomes. Since MI and SD are multifaceted experiences, it is vital to address them with an interdisciplinary approach.

Recent Findings

Researchers found that different mechanisms and regions of the brain are involved in MI, which distinguish it from PTSD. SD is a key mechanism that contributes to MI. People who experience greater potentially morally injurious events (PMIE), including war and global pandemic, are at higher risk for SD. SD is an independent risk factor for suicide. Patients suffering from SD do not benefit as much from traditional trauma interventions and often need a longer course of treatment. Spiritually integrated interventions, especially those that improve flexible thinking and the ability to process multiple moral contexts, can effectively treat SD.

Summary

Untreated SD can lead to suicide, worse treatment outcomes, lower resilience, more severe comorbid PTSD symptoms, loss of social support, and disengagement from values-based activities. Spiritually informed, evidence-based interventions can improve treatment outcomes, decrease PTSD symptoms, and increase posttraumatic growth and positive attitudes among trauma survivors, especially for BIPOC.

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    Susannah Robb Kondrath PhD

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Kondrath, S.R. Moral Injury and Spiritual Distress: Clinical Applications in Interdisciplinary, Spiritually Integrated Interventions. Curr Treat Options Psych 9, 126–139 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40501-022-00263-5

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