TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluating a 3-week model for reducing symptoms of stress in traumatized youth using the Trauma Tapping Technique (TTT) for self-help: A pilot trial.
AU - Stapleton, Peta Berenice
AU - Sandstrom, Ulf
AU - Gunilla, Hamne
PY - 2018/12/24
Y1 - 2018/12/24
N2 - 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.
Conclusions: The proposal that a 3-week model of teaching emotional literacy via a self help technique such as TTT is a potential solution for complex communities is discussed, and suggestions for future large scale trials are offered.
AB - 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.
Conclusions: The proposal that a 3-week model of teaching emotional literacy via a self help technique such as TTT is a potential solution for complex communities is discussed, and suggestions for future large scale trials are offered.
U2 - 10.21926/obm.icm.1804036
DO - 10.21926/obm.icm.1804036
M3 - Article
SN - 2573-4393
VL - 3
JO - OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine
JF - OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine
IS - 4
M1 - 036
ER -