A Virtual Functional Medicine-Based Interdisciplinary and Integrative Intervention for Gulf War Illness

Area of Science:

• Integrative health
• Functional medicine
• Telehealth interventions

Background:

• Combat-deployed Veterans often experience chronic multisymptom illness (CMI), including Gulf War Illness (GWI).
• Medically complex conditions in Veterans are frequently linked to deployment exposures and co-occurring cognitive/behavioral health issues.
• Traditional single-symptom treatments are often insufficient for Veterans with GWI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a virtual Functional Medicine-based Interdisciplinary and Integrative Intervention for Veterans with CMI/GWI.
• To improve health outcomes and self-efficacy in implementing lifestyle changes for Veterans.

Main Methods:

• A 6-month telehealth program incorporating functional medicine assessments, nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, and health coaching.
• Personalized interventions tailored to individual Veteran needs.
• Baseline and 6-month follow-up assessments of physical/emotional symptoms and functioning.

Main Results:

• High Veteran engagement with 70-100% attendance across sessions.
• Significant improvements in physical and mental health symptoms.
• Positive changes in weight management, functional movement, and sleep quality.

Conclusions:

• Preliminary findings suggest the intervention can yield positive health outcomes for medically complex Veterans.
• The program's success and participant enthusiasm highlight its potential for individualized GWI treatment.
• This approach offers innovative solutions for evaluating and treating Veterans with deployment-related illnesses.