Novel approaches are needed to target PTSD and psychosocial growth or functional recovery. One potentail way to address this critical ned is through moral elevation. This pilot trial tested a new web-based moral elevation intervention with post-9/11 Veterans who experienced a morally injurious event and PTSD symptoms. MOVED is an 8-session intervention administered over 4 weeks that aims to elicit moral elevation and its benefits. Findings suggested MOVED was considered feasible and satisfactory, demonstrated high levels of engagement, and established preliminary evidence that this approach is linked with lower PTSD symptoms and enhanced QOL for Veterans with PTSD and moral injury.

Given the inconsistencies with measurements used to assess state-level experiences of moral elevation, and insufficient psychometric analyses for commonly used measures, the State Moral Elevation Scale (SMES) was developed and tested using an online sample (N = 930) including clinical and nonclincial (general) subsamples. Results from this study identified a 9-item measure with 1) excellent reliability, 2) good fit statistics and strict measurement invariance across clinical and nonclinical subsamples, and 3) evidence of construct validity for both subsamples. Findings suggest the SMES is a psychometrically valid and reliable assessment tool for state-level elevation which can be used in both general and clinical populations.