Mapping moral injury: Development and feasibility of the Clinical Interview for Moral Injury—military version (CIMI-M)
Mariëlle L. de Goede, Paul A. Boelen, Brett T. Litz, F. Jackie June ter HeideObjective
There is currently no clinical interview to assess exposure to potentially morally injurious experiences (PMIEs) and moral injury, the potential clinical outcome associated with PMIEs. To enable a person-centered assessment of PMIEs and moral injury in military veterans, we developed a structured, non-diagnostic clinical interview to support descriptive assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment planning, and conducted an initial evaluation of its feasibility, acceptability, and clinical utility.
Method
The Clinical Interview for Moral Injury—Military Version (CIMI-M) was developed through an iterative, stakeholder-informed process. Questions from existing moral injury instruments were selected, adapted and supplemented to create an interview with a descriptive, theory-driven approach. Clinicians (N = 7) and military veterans (N = 8) at two Dutch trauma centers who conducted the CIMI-M were interviewed and completed questionnaires assessing the CIMI-M’s feasibility, acceptability, and clinical utility. Interviews were analyzed using the General Inductive Approach for qualitative evaluation data.
Results
Mean evaluation scores were 7.63 for veterans and 8.41 for clinicians (10-point scale). Qualitative analysis of interview transcripts revealed that the CIMI-M helped veterans share their experiences, while clinicians found it valuable for fostering trust and planning treatment. Both groups agreed that the CIMI-M generated insightful content about PMIEs and moral injury. Based on feedback, several interview questions were revised or added.
Conclusions
We found preliminary evidence that the CIMI-M is a feasible, acceptable, and clinically useful descriptive interview. It offers a potentially valuable treatment-planning tool that complements paper-and-pencil approaches that assess PMIEs and moral injury. Further evaluation, including in non-veteran populations, is needed.