Effects of Positive Psychology–Based Interventions on PTSD and Moral Injury Symptoms: A Systematic Review

Cox, L., January, B. (2026, April).

Overview

This systematic review seeks to answer: In veterans, first responders, and healthcare personnel with PTSD or moral injury as a result of traumatic and morally challenging experiences in their professional roles, how do treatments integrating positive psychology principles compared to standard care affect PTSD or moral injury symptoms, social functioning, and quality of life?

PROSPERO Registration

Protocol preregistered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD420XXXXXXX):
View registration

References

View References PDF

  1. Fulton, J. J., Calhoun, P. S., Wagner, H. R., Schry, A. R., Hair, L. P., Feeling, N., Elbogen, E., & Beckham, J. C. (2015). The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans: A meta-analysis. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 31, 98–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.02.003
  2. Hoge, C. W. (2011). Interventions for War-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Meeting Veterans Where They Are. JAMA, 306(5). https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2011.1096
  3. Doran, J. M., & DeViva, J. (2018). A naturalistic evaluation of evidence-based treatment for veterans with PTSD. Traumatology, 24(3), 157–167. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000140
  4. Dickinson, S. (2023). Growing from Shame: Positive Psychology Interventions as a way to treat Moral Injury informed by acts of Commission and Omission. Military Behavioral Health, 11(1–2), 105–119. https://doi.org/10.1080/21635781.2023.2221464
  5. McGuire, A. P., Howard, B. A. N., Erickson, T. M., & Creech, S. K. (2023). Moral Elevation Online Intervention for Veterans Experiencing Distress Related to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Moral Injury (MOVED): Pilot Trial of a 4-Week Positive Psychology Web-Based Intervention. JMIR Formative Research, 7, e39894. https://doi.org/10.2196/39894
  6. Kearney, D. J., Malte, C. A., Storms, M., & Simpson, T. L. (2021). Loving-Kindness Meditation vs Cognitive Processing Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Veterans: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open, 4(4), e216604. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.6604
  7. McGuire, A. P., Rodenbaugh, M., Howard, B. A. N., & Contractor, A. A. (2025). Response styles to positive affect during a positive psychology intervention for veterans with PTSD and moral injury: Preliminary results from a moral elevation intervention pilot trial. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 17(2), 457–465. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001774

PRISMA, Search Strategy, & Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria

View PRISMA, Search Strategy, & Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria PDF