An Engaging Serious Game Aiming at Awareness of Therapy Skills Associated with Social Anxiety Disorder

Abstract

Social anxiety disorder is characterized by sentiments of fear and anxiety in social interactions. This study's aim was to design and evaluate a serious game to raise awareness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills associated with social anxiety disorder. The target group was university students, as 10-25% within this group have impaired functioning due to social anxiety. This study was based on three different iterations (study 1, study 2, and study 3), all included within a formative evaluation framework. In total, this study involved 71 university students, all within the 18-31 age range. The game was designed in Unity with the implementation of different CBT skills within different scenarios. The scenarios were designed based on psychophysiological pilot testing in study 1, and external psychiatrist and psychologist expertise. The evaluation in study 2 and 3 was based on self-reports (questionnaires and interviews), and a recall knowledge check. The findings revealed that the designed serious game was successful in terms of focused attention, perceived usability, aesthetic appeal, being worthwhile, and narrative understanding. However, the designed elements could be improved by allowing more in-game personalization with the inclusion of the users' own life experiences.

Can a Serious Game Be Designed to Increase Engagement in a Mandatory Postmodern Novella at Danish Gymnasiums?

“…This opens an interactive story world, including both text and game, with the potential to engage a user in the digital storytelling experience and make them focus on the story itself instead of the text or gameplay alone. Digital storytelling is well covered and discussed within serious gaming [24][25][26][27][28]. However, digital storytelling is much more than telling a story in a digital format.…”

Gamifying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Techniques on Smartphones for Bangkok’s Millennials With Depressive Symptoms: Interdisciplinary Game Development

“…This can be in the form of serious games (designed for purposes beyond entertainment), which are part of applied games; games based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) constitute 1 of the 6 major categories of tested games for mental health [ 12 ]. This approach can benefit players with favorable emotional treatment through awareness, behavior changes, and relief of symptoms [ 13 , 14 ]. Mobile mental health intervention is affordable and can be used adjunctively with the patient’s existing treatment [ 15 ].…”