Contemporary approaches to the treatment of chronic illness in mainstream healthcare services require long-term specialist support that attend to specific health complaints rather than the multi-faceted individual case presentation. However, treatment outcomes are often poor, treatment engagement is deficient, and longitudinal efficacy is typically variable. The Läklabbet Healing Lab utilized a single-arm non-randomised pilot study design comprising multiple integrative interventions targeted at improving general wellbeing and health markers for a demographic of people with diffuse diagnoses, that had been unable to work for a period of over one-year despite conventional primary care treatment. A total of N = 6 participants were recruited to the Healing Lab, presenting with varied, multiple and complex health complaints, all of whom were female. All participants completed the intervention programme (Timepoint 2), and no participants were lost to follow up. Symptom tracking subjective rating scores at each timepoint demonstrated overall global improvement across all domains in all participants. Cognitive improvement was also observed in continuous performance testing (QIK Test CPT) outcomes. The collaborative multidisciplinary working practices augmented the therapeutic climate for change through interdisciplinary communication and continuity of care; methodology that promoted the value of collaborative inquiry and case formulation is discussed in this paper.

Background: This pilot trial investigated whether a 3-week self-help model for stress reduction using the Trauma Tapping Technique (TTT) would impact traumatized youth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on post-traumatic stress symptoms and general happiness. It also focussed on the acceptability of the program to recipients and implementation in a community with complex trauma and conflict. Methods: The study involved 77 youth who received a TTT 3-week model of intervention (self-applied). Post traumatic stress symptoms and general happiness were assessed pre and post the intervention and at 6-month follow-up. Results: TTT was associated with a significantly greater improvement in happiness (12.12% increase, p<0.05) and a significant reduction in trauma symptomology from pre-to immediately post-test (6% decrease, p<0.05). The 6-month results were nonsignificant (p=0.056) however from pre to follow-up, participants indicated an 11.4% reduction in their trauma symptoms. The qualitative investigation of staff and participants revealed the intervention had a positive effect on trauma stress symptoms and happiness outcomes findings.